Vintage Zildjian Collector's Guide with Vincent Ward - EP 200

Vincent gives us a deep dive into the history of the American made Zildjian Cymbals from 1929 up through the 1990s. We talk about all the various stamps through the generations that can be used to identify vintage A. Zildjian cymbals, along with notes on the hammering, lathing, and bell size that can help you determine collectibility and value of a vintage Zildjian cymbal. Vincent shares his 9 step process of determining if a cymbal is a good purchase which includes everything from the shape of the cymbal to the source you purchase it from, and everything in between.
We touch a little bit on the Turkish made K. Zildjians, but more info will come on that down the road!
Here is a link to the full Zildjian history episode with Paul Francis: • The History of Zildjia...
Here are some helpful guides to date your cymbals:
black.net.nz/a...
robscott.net/c...
www.hidehitter...
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[@thetype85]

Nice episode! FYI, Meinl was nonexistent in the U.S. until about 1984/85, even then they were minor player for at least another 10 years! Paiste was Zildjian's only competition until Sabian was allowed to sell in the U.S around 1982 (?)

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

Thanks Dan - You are next in this newly founded cymbal collecting series!

[@chizzadbc]

Good to see Steve getting a shout out in this 👏 he’s put a lot of effort into the cymbal community off his own back and is a great guy

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

Absolutely, his work on the stamp timeline and history in general is invaluable. The cymbal.wiki is a great resource. A real unsung hero of the drum community!

[@benr4165]

I really appreciate Vince's knowledge and for giving him a stage Bart. I love the hunt for the unloved, little known and orphan brand cymbals. Up until the last year or so, you could easily spend under $100 and pick up some unique if non-pedigree stuff. As a result I have sets of nickel silver stuff from paiste and sonor and sets of zanchi and other Italian cymbals. Do vintage Zildjians sound awesome? Yes if you have the scratch. I still have my original Zildjians from the early 80s, so I guess they are as vintage as I am! Most important thing is playing what you love and building community with dealers and reverbers. Cheers!

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

Very well said Ben, it is all about loving what you play and the community. I have a pair of New Beats and a Medium Ride that I assume are from the 80's but I am thinking about doing a video where I try to date them with the resources and info I learned from Vincent. Thank you for watching!

[@daviewavie112]

I picked up a zilco cymbal recently. I found one online post saying zilco was zildjian’s “seconds line” from the 1930’s-50’s. And was also a seconds line for zildjian/Sabian in Canada in the 70’s.

[@allenlumeyer2428]

Really?

[@pospercussion8401]

Great episode. Thanks to both of you for supporting the "Shields Classic" Show in Covington. It was great to see you there. Bart, congrats on your 200th Episode!

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

Thanks Po! I appreciate you watching and doing everything that you do for the community

[@lisamitchell1355]

I own Avedis A custom, K Custom and the HYBRID CYMBAL PACKS AND LOVE THEM ALL

[@tmaddrummer]

This was fantastic! Thanks and Blessings!

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

Thanks for watching!

[@thomassabol4565]

Great show on zildjian. I had an 18” impulse back in the earlier 80’s. Miss that thing

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

Thanks Thomas!

[@justhadrums]

I used to have this obsession with acquiring first stamp cymbals and using them for hats of all different weights.

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

Very Interesting - did you have a favorite combination?

[@justhadrums]

@@DrumHistoryPodcast 15's that had 1100g top over 1450g bottom. The stamps were stamped slightly different but both definitely first stamps. They looked hand hammered and I might have had to enlarge the holes if I remember correctly.

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

That's awesome - sounds like a fun experiment!

[@goesjem]

This was great. Thanks. It would be great to see something like this on Paiste. A real video discussing the great 606, Giant Beats and black label 2002's.

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

Thanks for listening! Paiste will be next, it will be a 2 part episode - part 1 is already in recorded and will be out in a few weeks

[@goesjem]

@@DrumHistoryPodcast That is really great news. If you include black labels from the '70's and how they compare to red labels, that could also be great. Keep up the great work! Appreciated here.

[@MD-wk3gj]

Great information! Thank you. Today Zildjian has a large line of models and they each come in various sizes. Is it correct to say back in the 40s - 70s the only ‘model’ was the size?

[@rschw76409]

Will you please do a vintage Sabian collector’s guide? 😉

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

Yes I am planning on it! I’ve also got a 2 part Paiste one that will be out in the next few weeks. More cymbal collecting episodes to come!

[@williamboyle8918]

Remember when Sabian came out. Vintage Sabians? Damn I'm old and crusty !!!

[@howardk4016]

Wood & Weather Drum shop outside Springfield, MA? Great store!

[@MysteryZenSide2]

Very informative research~! quick Q: ... a music store has a vintage '50's 12" Zildjian cymbal with 3 dots and large US... but no A like most that are engraved with USA. Is this a Serviceman's Economy Zildjian?

[@setkeyandcymbal]

the "US" indicates they were Military issue and use

[@NintenDub]

This should be a good one 🤔 thanks bart

[@williamboyle8918]

The only cymbal that matters in the history of cymbals is the Rocktagon !

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

I think a full set of nothing but Rocktagon's (including hihats) would be a serious power move 💪

[@williamboyle8918]

@@DrumHistoryPodcast Yes, one set of camber hi hats, 7 rocktagons, and one zil bell . Perfecto

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

@@williamboyle8918 Mmm that sounds nice :)

[@GrassRoots-fp4ty]

To funny. My wifes gift to me for our anniversary this week is 3 vintage A's. There hollow logo A's, 10" splash, 16 and 18 inch crash. There glassy and beautiful. Love Zildjian

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

That’s awesome - good timing! Congrats on the anniversary 🎉

[@mattdelany6799]

They’re, not there.

[@GrassRoots-fp4ty]

@@mattdelany6799 Yes, as in, they're all mine!

[@remygaron8311]

Loved every sec of it 🤟🏼🤟🏼🇨🇦

[@rockyjay55]

They were stamping the cymbal types around 1957 onward. Also I thought the late 50s stamp ended around 1962 /1963.

[@brent3760]

I think I met him at the Chicago Drum show! He had tons and I mean TONS of cymbals! If it wasn't him someone looks just like him!

[@brent3760]

I wanted to trade him some Funch cymbals I had but he only wanted other Z's. He had some wonderful stuff! I want some of those Block stamps he had!

[@flapjack413]

I haven't started watching yet, but I'm hoping somewhere in here, I will get info to date a crash cymbal I've had for the past 25 years... It's an 18" probably medium thin (1575g if I recall correctly) A series (I believe it's an A, by comparing the hammering to other A models I've owned). When it found its way into my hands in the late 90's, it already had a good 20+ years of patina on it. I've always guessed it to be mid-seventies. I did clean all of the age off it, because the logos were already long gone, and I hate dirty cymbals, lol. It's had a home on my kit full time since I acquired it, really great sounding crash, been on every recording I've been a part of, and I would love to know more about it. Anyway, I'm gonna STFU and watch now!

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

That is very cool, hopefully you can help identify what you have by watching this episode and using the stamp guides online. Let me know if you can identify what you have!

[@krusher74]

just google "date my zildjian cymbals" there are many resources online.

[@davidknibbs9646]

Hi Guy's, I have 1963 slingerland champagne. 14,13,16,20 kick what do you Guy's think its worth? And i have a zildjian ride i think its from the 60s 😊

[@onenewworldmonkey]

Interesting to see any subject I know absolutely nothing about. I collect antique English longbows from the 1700s and 1800s. He sounds just like me but with a different subject. A neighbor died and I just bought a set of 68 or 69 Sonor that has a 20" Avedis (2160 g), 18", and 2-14" hi hats, along with 1-14" that says Zanchi Vibra. I was just offered $800 for everything and will probably sell them. I wanted to mention that mine (after a little looking) do not have the 3 dots but I'm sure aren't 70s. Additionally, they are easily an inch and a half with the "E" not being to the left of the "H" and the "N" is directly under the "C" or perhaps a little to the right of it. The "Zildjian Co" are heavy bold, too-all without the 3 dots.

[@setkeyandcymbal]

thank you for the kind words. if the cymbals are contemporary with the drum set then they're very likely to be very nice sounding. the weight of the 20" seems very much in the sweet spot for that era. the cymbals sound like they might be earlier than the drum set. perhaps late 50's based on the information you provided. if you send me a picture of the stamps i can tell you what era they are from. best, Vincent

[@Lupine.]

So... I've had this annoying, old, thin Zildjian for about 25 years now. I've only really used it for weird stacks since it has a tiny mounting hole. The online wiki makes it seem like a 14" K from 45-49. Lucky I haven't hurt it lol

[@d-weave8708]

Is there a way to contact Vincent?

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

Sure, if you are on social media, I think finding him on facebook is probably the easiest. Feel free to email me at [e-mail] if that doesn't work and I can get you guys connected.

[@jimilove7773]

Thanks!

[@lisamitchell1355]

I found one and no numbers at all the rest of stamp looks faded but readable

[@Kurdt1]

Loved it! Does Vincent have any social media or KZbin channel for me to follow please?

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

Thanks! Yep you can find him at VitalizerDrums

[@Kurdt1]

@@DrumHistoryPodcastthank you

[@improvisingdrumming]

hello, I would like to estimate the datation of a cymbale with a stamp similar to type0 K constantinople. I could send you a photo if you let me an email. Thank's very much. Tiri from France.

[@BeLoveHaveFun]

The first A Zildjian factory was in Quincy... you never heard of a "Quincy Pie".... C'mon man!

[@hofmann61]

Zildijan's quality control today obviously sucks. I found two K Constantinopel medium rides both 22" at Steve Maxwell's New York store. One was fantastic, nice woody ping over a low controled wash and the other one was dry, clangy and awful. The second one should never had left the factory. Also, out of NYC or LA its really hard to find a good Zildijan cymbal. In Europe anyway...

[@krusher74]

They fact that you think only what sounds good to you should leave the factory is horribly narcissistic.

[@hofmann61]

@@krusher74 I am sorry my friend, but 2 cymbals of the same line, model, weight and diameter that cost several 100 dollars should sound as being in the same ballpark imho. These 2 cymbals had nothing in comon soundwise. This might be a subjective opinion, but narcisistic? Dont exagerate.

[@vintagedrums]

What abut the Zildjian made in Romania ? Before the family came to US ? For the “ non believers “ i have the proof:)

[@brent3760]

Vincent, if you want to unload of any of your 50s or 40s 20 or 22s, let me know. Ill give you my email!!!

[@brent3760]

Vincent, I'd love to talk with you! You met my wife, 10 y/o boy and me at the Chicago drum show. I had the Funchs. I'd love to connect with you and talk cymbals my man!!