Military

This drum was made by an unknown maker in Europe, around 1808-1817. It has a brass shell with a cast coat of arms with a crown and the initials “FWR,” and skin heads. The wood hoops are painted red and white and drilled with 10 holes each for rope which is laced through leather ears, used to tighten the hoops. The shell is stamped below the vent hole:

GABLER
IN
BERLIN

(And on what appears to be a snare mechanism):

2A
2B 14 LR4

The attribution date for the drum is subject to study.

This trumpet was made by Horstmann Brothers & Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania around 1879-1882. It is an F natural trumpet made of brass, with a blue cord. This trumpet is stamped:

HORSTMANN BROS. & Co. [/] PHILADELPHIA

This is a standard military trumpet, made according to Specification No. 38, dated February 15th, 1879, “Specifications for Trumpets,” Quartermaster General’s Office, War Department:

“For all foot troops -- To be the same as standard sample brass trumpet ’F,’ two (2) coil, and with two (2) mouthpieces. When complete, with mouth-piece in, to weigh about twelve and a half (12 ½) ounces, and to measure about sixteen (16) inches in length, and about four and a half (4 ½) inches in width at center. Diameter of bell to be about four and a half (4 ½) inches.”

William Hortsmann, born in Germany, emigrated to the United States and established himself as a maker of fringe, laces, and trimmings in Philadelphia, in 1815. William Horstmann & Sons were located at North Third Street between 1830 and 1857, manufacturing and importing everything from textiles and trimmings to military goods including drums, pistols, and swords. As the company expanded, Horstmann & Sons moved the factory to 5th and Cherry Streets and their storefront to 2223 Chestnut Street. Later the company would grow to two stores in New York and an agency in Paris. William Horstmann retired from the company in 1845, and his sons, William and Sigmund continued the family business until 1872.

This snare drum was made by Rose, Morris & Co. in London, England, around 1968-1970. It is a Clansman model with a black lacquer wood shell, chrome-plated metal flange hoops, a white vinyl top head and a clear vinyl bottom head, and a metal snare. There are 6 chrome-plated metal ribs attached to the shell covering the metal tensioning rods. The maker’s medallion around the vent hole is inscribed:

CLANSMAN
ROSE, MORRIS & CO.
MADE IN ENGLAND

This drum was used by a member of the United States Air Force Pipe Band. In 1950, the band was formed as part of the United States Air Force Drum and Bugle Corps. A separate Air Force Pipe Band was formed in 1960, and by 1970, the pipe band was disbanded.

This drum was made by Abner Stevens in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in 1812. The wood drum shell has been cut down approximately 3 inches from each end and features an image of the American bald eagle on a flag shield with a banner inscribed “LIBERTY OR DEATH.” It has black painted hoops and metal hooks laced with rope through leather ears, used to tighten the hoops. The drum is currently disassembled. The paper label inside the shell is inscribed:

AMERICAN DRUMS
ABNE[R] [S]TEVENS,
HA[S] FOR SALE
TAMBOREANS, BASS & COM[ ]
DRUMS,
MADE IN THE BEST MANNER
At his Factory in the center of the town of
PITTSFIELD, (Ms.) 1812.

”This drum was carried during five years of the Civil War by Henry K. Bevier, father of donor, who was drum major of the 72d New York Zuaves. He carried the drum through many engagements of the Civil War including the Battle of Gettysburg and also in the Victory Parade held in Washington, D. C. at the close of the War. The family tradition is that this drum was originally purchased by his grandfather who carried it during the war of 1812.”

”Henry K. Bevier was born on December 1, 1843 at Jerusalem in Erie County/New York, the son of Samuel and Rhoda Taylor. On August 5, 1869, he married Mary M. Taylor and in 1873 settled in Elisabethtown, Bartholemew County, Indiana. He later moved to Nebraska and was at the time of his death in his 90's the oldest surviving Civil War veteran in Nebraska."

”Some time after the Civil War, Bevier cut three inches off the top of the drum body and three inches off its bottom and made a new drum which he gave to one son. The remaining center portion, was made into another drum and given to another son, which is the drum donated to the museum.”

Henry K. Bevier (1843-1938 ) [recorded in roster as Brevier] enlisted on May 28, 1861. He was a musician with the 72nd New York Infantry, Company D. He was mustered in June 20, 1861. Bevier was mustered out June 19, 1864.

This snare drum was made by William H. Horstmann & Sons, In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, around 1830-1857. It has a dark-brown stained wood shell with a pattern of 64 brass tacks around the sound hole, and two skin heads. There are two black-painted wood hoops drilled with 10 holes each for rope which is laced through leather ears, used to tighten the hoops. The printed label is inscribed:

WM.H.HORSTMANN & SONS,
MILITARY FURNISHERS
No. 51 North Third Street
PHILADELPHIA

Hortsmann, born in Germany, emigrated to the United States and established himself as a maker of fringe, laces, and trimmings in Philadelphia, in 1815. William Horstmann & Sons were located at North Third Street between 1830 and 1857, manufacturing and importing everything from textiles and trimmings to military goods including drums, pistols, and swords. As the company expanded, Horstmann & Sons moved the factory to 5th and Cherry Streets and their storefront to 2223 Chestnut Street. Later the company would grow to two stores in New York and an agency in Paris. William Horstmann retired from the company in 1845, and his sons, William and Sigmund continued the family business until 1872.

According to the donor, this drum was picked up by a soldier by the name of Dunlevy from the Battle of the Wilderness, fought on May 5-6, near Fredericksburg, Virginia, in 1864.

This snare drum was made by John Webster, near Spencertown, New York, around 1790-1820. It has a painted shell with a painted eagle with its characteristic “frog-legged” design that appears during the period of the 1790s to about 1820 on U.S. militia canteens, belt plates, cap insignia and knapsacks. Also this basic design, with a shield on the eagle‘s breast, was used on the U.S. Peace medals of 1792 and 1793. There are 13 stars painted on the drum shell in a circular pattern around the eagle motif. Also, there are 4 additional stars painted vertically to the right side of the eagle motif.

The drum has two wood hoops drilled with 9 holes each for rope, which at one time, was laced through leather ears, used to tighten the hoops. There are 2 skin heads in poor condition and remnants of a gut snare. The drum is disassembled and would require conservation to bring it back to its original condition. It is accessioned with a pair of hardwood drum sticks. There is a label inside the shell that is inscribed:

“I was made by John Webster 3 miles north of Spencertown Meeting House Sept 1779”

As indicated in correspondence with the previous owner, this drum was brought back from the War of 1812 by Captain John George Snyder. Further research is needed to determine details of Snyder’s military career.

This snare drum was made by Rudolf Wurlitzer and Bros. in Cincinnati, Ohio, about 1883. It has a wood shell with a painted shield with red and white stripes, and the letters “U. S.” The hoops are stained black and are held together by 8 metal tension rods. The drum has a gut snare and skin heads. The printed label inside the shell reads:

Rudolph Wurlitzer & Bros.
MANUFACTURERS OF
Drums and Band Instruments
OF EVERY DESCRIPTION AND STYLE
No 115 MAIN STREET
Send for catalogue
Cincinnati, O.

This drum features specifications of military snare drums adopted on July 9, 1886. It was transferred to the Smithsonian in 1884, and possibly may be an early prototype made by Wurlitzer as it lacks any date of contract information required by the Quartermaster General specifications.