An odd question about sound.
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Topic author - Posts: 2
- Joined: Fri Feb 12, 2021 9:58 am
- First Name: Rob
- Last Name: Funkhouser
- Location: Indianapolis, IN
An odd question about sound.
Hello!
My name is Rob and I work at the Rhythm Discovery Center, a percussion museum, in Indianapolis. I was invited to register to this forum by the admin from the Model T club in order to ask you guys about something a little strange that I am hunting.
Basically I am wondering if anyone has any older brake drums from a ford that I can hear the sound of when struck. Composers started using brake drums as far back as the 30's because they were easily attainable, and apparently sounded great. People still use brake drums today, but modern brake drums sound like anvils more or less. The descriptions from earlier composers described them more like bells that had a pleasant sustain.
Does anyone have any brake drums that old? If so would you mind suspending one from a string and hitting it? Or if you're in the Indianapolis area, I would happily come record it. The sound would be kept around for our reference and help one researcher's project directly, as he is actively seeking sounds from the 20's to 40's.
Hope this isn't too weird!
Thanks,
Rob
My name is Rob and I work at the Rhythm Discovery Center, a percussion museum, in Indianapolis. I was invited to register to this forum by the admin from the Model T club in order to ask you guys about something a little strange that I am hunting.
Basically I am wondering if anyone has any older brake drums from a ford that I can hear the sound of when struck. Composers started using brake drums as far back as the 30's because they were easily attainable, and apparently sounded great. People still use brake drums today, but modern brake drums sound like anvils more or less. The descriptions from earlier composers described them more like bells that had a pleasant sustain.
Does anyone have any brake drums that old? If so would you mind suspending one from a string and hitting it? Or if you're in the Indianapolis area, I would happily come record it. The sound would be kept around for our reference and help one researcher's project directly, as he is actively seeking sounds from the 20's to 40's.
Hope this isn't too weird!
Thanks,
Rob
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- Posts: 6435
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:18 am
- First Name: Scott
- Last Name: Conger
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '13, '15, '19, '23
- Location: Clark, WY
- Board Member Since: 2005
Re: An odd question about sound.
You will want to hear a drum from 09-25, nice sound; 26-27, a little deeper; finally a repro Rocky Mountain drum, deeper still.
I absolutely understand why they were used in music. You will get your wish pretty easily, I think.
I absolutely understand why they were used in music. You will get your wish pretty easily, I think.
Scott Conger
Tyranny under the guise of law is still Tyranny
NH Full Flow Float Valves
Obsolete carburetor parts manufactured
Tyranny under the guise of law is still Tyranny
NH Full Flow Float Valves
Obsolete carburetor parts manufactured
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- Posts: 2260
- Joined: Sat Mar 09, 2019 2:05 am
- First Name: Brent
- Last Name: Burger
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 TT closed cab flatbed
- Location: Spokane, Wa.
- Board Member Since: 2014
Re: An odd question about sound.
When I rebuilt my wheels, I clanged on my drums to hear the bell sound.
I know exactly what you mean.
I know exactly what you mean.
More people are doing it today than ever before !
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- Posts: 152
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 6:00 pm
- First Name: Dale
- Last Name: Myers
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Tudor
- Location: Greenville
- MTFCA Number: 24465
- MTFCI Number: 19884
- Board Member Since: 2001
Re: An odd question about sound.
Maybe this should be on the General Discussion Forum.
BUT since it is here I wonder if you have ever "rung" a cast iron skillet? Some of the older ones have a nice tone.
BUT since it is here I wonder if you have ever "rung" a cast iron skillet? Some of the older ones have a nice tone.
The old forums are a gold mine of information.
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- Posts: 2402
- Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 4:17 pm
- First Name: Mark
- Last Name: Strange
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Cut Off Touring (now a pickup)
- Location: Hillsboro, MO
- MTFCA Number: 30944
- MTFCI Number: 23667
- Board Member Since: 2013
Re: An odd question about sound.
Mark Strange
Hillsboro, MO
1924 Cut-off Touring (now a pickup)
Hillsboro, MO
1924 Cut-off Touring (now a pickup)
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- Posts: 3676
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 3:13 pm
- First Name: Wayne
- Last Name: Sheldon
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 Runabout 1913 Speedster
- Location: Grass Valley California, USA
- Board Member Since: 2005
Re: An odd question about sound.
More modern brake drums sound like hitting an anvil because they are cast iron. It was discovered that cast iron has a better friction coefficient than does steel. Most brake drums during the 1920s were still steel, and will ring like a bell. While model Ts may have a desirable tone, you really want to find and compare the tones on many larger cars of the era as well. Cars like Chevrolet, small Overlands, and dozens of others will have brake drums slightly larger than a model T. I have neve rung a 1926/'27 model T brake drum, they are also larger than the earlier ones were. Years ago, I needed to work with a large Buick, and rang a couple of their brake drums (I don't have those anymore). Beautiful tone! Cars like Cadillac and Lincoln from the 1920s would have even larger brake drums. A TT truck would be another one.
Sadly, in these days of most people quickly throwing anything away that they do not know or understand, many sources of old brake drums have disappeared as pennies into the scrap recycler's pockets.
Good luck!
Sadly, in these days of most people quickly throwing anything away that they do not know or understand, many sources of old brake drums have disappeared as pennies into the scrap recycler's pockets.
Good luck!
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- Posts: 521
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:42 pm
- First Name: David
- Last Name: Dewey
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1916 touring, 1925 runaboaut, 1926 Tudor
- Location: Oroville, CA
- MTFCI Number: 19936
- Board Member Since: 1999
Re: An odd question about sound.
Boy, Wayne is so correct. The other day I went to an estate clean up; the guy had collected hit-n-miss gas engine--in the hundreds and other stuff (there must be 1000 canning jars in one spot. But the family is clearing the property to sell it and wants all of it gone. Yes, they've been selling engines left and right for from $100 to $600 (most of the engines will run!), but I noticed what WAS a very nice Model A door, no rust, but they ran over it with the cat--wasn't anything they recognized. I picked up an accessory front fender brace that was just leaning against a building--scrap to them!
As for the brake drums, many folks have worn out ones that will still serve well as percussion instruments. The wear may change the frequency, but they will still ring nicely.
As for the brake drums, many folks have worn out ones that will still serve well as percussion instruments. The wear may change the frequency, but they will still ring nicely.
T'ake care,
David Dewey
David Dewey
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Topic author - Posts: 2
- Joined: Fri Feb 12, 2021 9:58 am
- First Name: Rob
- Last Name: Funkhouser
- Location: Indianapolis, IN
Re: An odd question about sound.
Thank you all for the kind answers, and for taking your time to look at my question.
The video above is enlightening, as I have seen music played where they have subbed in modern brake drums for older music. They couldn't be more different in terms of sound.
I would love to gather some worn ones for the museum if people have them laying around.
Sometimes working in a museum takes you to some weird corners of the internet. Happy to have found such a pleasant one here.
The video above is enlightening, as I have seen music played where they have subbed in modern brake drums for older music. They couldn't be more different in terms of sound.
I would love to gather some worn ones for the museum if people have them laying around.
Sometimes working in a museum takes you to some weird corners of the internet. Happy to have found such a pleasant one here.
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- Posts: 1960
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:39 am
- First Name: Tim
- Last Name: Juhl
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1917 Touring
- Location: Thumb of Michigan
- MTFCA Number: 50297
- MTFCI Number: 24810
- Board Member Since: 2018
Re: An odd question about sound.
I'm going to send Rob a small brake drum for his museum. If anyone has a large one sitting around that is surplus to their needs I'm sure he would be appreciative. That also goes for drums from other manufacturers of that period. Who knew there was music written in the 1920's calling for Brake Drums? I had a nice chat with Rob and am pleased to support his endeavor.
1917 Touring
1946 Aeronca Champ
1952 Willys M38a1 Jeep (sold 2023)
1953 Ford Jubilee Tractor
1946 Aeronca Champ
1952 Willys M38a1 Jeep (sold 2023)
1953 Ford Jubilee Tractor
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- Posts: 4967
- Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2019 1:57 pm
- First Name: Mark
- Last Name: Gregush
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 cutdown PU, 1920 Dodge touring, 1948 F2 Ford flat head 6 pickup 3 speed
- Location: Portland Or
- MTFCA Number: 52564
- Board Member Since: 1999
Re: An odd question about sound.
In the book; Three Pedals and a Lever, by Gordon Stromberg, he talks about them being used for charivari party gongs. "The emergency brake drums make a good gong for a charivari party in case some one got married" (alternatively spelled shivaree or chivaree)
I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas!
1925 Cut down pickup
1920 Dodge touring
1948 Ford F2 pickup
1925 Cut down pickup
1920 Dodge touring
1948 Ford F2 pickup
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- Posts: 6443
- Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2021 10:08 pm
- First Name: Pat
- Last Name: McNallen
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926-7 roadster
- Location: Graham, Texas
- MTFCA Number: 51486
- Board Member Since: 2021
Re: An odd question about sound.
When I was a grade school kid, the school's fire bell was made from a huge old brake drum from some kind of wooden wheeled truck. It was about 22" in diameter and about 6" deep. The apparatus was shop-made, with the drum mounted on a bolt through one of the hub bolt holes and it had a pivoting hammer device with a pull rope to smack the drum on its outer diameter. It would make you jump out of your seat anywhere inside the (1929) 3-story brick building when they rang it for fire drills. I found a very rusty model T crankshaft the other day, and when I bumped it against another metal object, it gave out a fairly loud and very pleasant ringing sound. Old spoked wireline sheaves made from manganese steel have nice tone, also.
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- Posts: 1015
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:45 am
- First Name: David
- Last Name: Stroud
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 Coupe
- Location: Mound City, MO 64470
- Board Member Since: 2011
Re: An odd question about sound.
I saw an old episode of boxing on a TV show from back in the '50's a few years ago. The 'bell' was was a an eight hole brake drum from a 3/4 ton truck, sounded great. Dave
1925 mostly original coupe.