Vintage Toy Drums and Percussion
Hello friends, Samm Bennett here. Toy drums and xylophones and such are what you'll find plenty of here. I'm drawn to these items for their visual interest, of course, but I've also used toy drums and percussion on many an occasion to make... actual music! Hope you enjoy the gallery.
NOTE: This and all the other galleries here at my website feature images or historical items I find worthy of interest in one way or another, and I hope you will find something(s) here that interest you as well. I spend a great deal of time collecting and compiling these materials, which you are free to enjoy at your leisure. Should you want to support me in these efforts, and/or my musical efforts which you'll find plenty of here at the website, I do hope you'll consider making a donation (however small!) via PayPal to help sustain these activities. The PayPalMe link is HERE. Thanks!
A very old combination horn and rattle.
Off to war, little tykes, off to war!
This drum from the 1940s is rather large: 16 inches in diameter. And note the spurs this was the bass drum to a toy drum set.
These are quite handsome old toy drums from England.
Note the wing-nut tenability. Nice! |
Boy Scouts are pictured on this old toy drum. via
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A rather fancy, regal-looking toy xylophone, quite old.
Here's an old toy drum kit with a cowboy motif:
Love the serene look on the cowboy's face. Like he's meditating.
Them crazy hillbillies!
Now let's look at a few of the old-school crank toys. These usually have a 4, 5 or 6 note melody that sounds when you crank the handle, much like the familiar Jack-in-the-box when it plays Pop Goes the Weasel. The sound is often very similar to a sanza or likembe (sometimes called "African thumb piano") since the keys inside are metal prongs not unlike the ones you'd find on the African instruments. I have a few of these that I picked up years ago in Amsterdam (there's a photo of them below). They sound great!
Sometimes they came in animal shapes. via
Here are three from my own collection, purchased years ago in Europe. I use them from time to time. Still going strong!
OK, that's enough crank toys, back to some drums...
The next few pictures feature a delightful old Japanese toy drum...
Here's a rather unusually long toy drum. Handsome in red!
Just below is a nice little selection of old party noise makers: that is, percussion toys for adults,
not children! I love these things, and in fact I have another whole page here at the site devoted exclusively to them. If you want to see more, go HERE.
not children! I love these things, and in fact I have another whole page here at the site devoted exclusively to them. If you want to see more, go HERE.
I'm constantly adding pictures to this gallery, so check back in again sometime!