The Browns
Benjamin, Eli, Moses, and William
Much has been written about the Brown family of Windsor as drum makers. Family members Benjamin, Moses, Eli, and William made drums between 1809 - 1848. Sometimes they worked together, as can be seen on labels, and at other times alone. The Brown family consisted of farmers, coopers, and tanners, the latter two being particularly important to the manufacture of drums. As with other woodworking trades, coopers had the tools and knowledge necessary to create the steam bent components required for drum production.
The hallmarks of these instruments are their often large dimensions, elaborate tack design, and sturdy well-made construction. The large majority of Brown drums are made from maple, many having a very plain grain pattern, if any grain is even seen. Others, however, are beautiful tiger maple with wavy vertical grain.
Brown drums are usually some of the easiest to date since they were very diligent about hand-writing a number and year on each label. Other makers did this as well, but usually not with as much consistency as the Browns.
B.E.& M. Brown
15" diameter by 13 1/2" tall drum shell.
This is one of the early drums manufactured by Benjamin, Moses, and Eli Brown. The tack design is not what most of us have come to know as the "traditional" Brown family design.
The counter hoops are chunkier than those seen on later drums with thicker scarf joints. Later drums have a taper that almost disappears towards its end.
By a comparison of other labels, this drum was most likely made between 1809-1815.
Part of the Smithsonian Collection, another B.E.& M. Brown labeled drum. No dimensions are given, but a description of the label reads, "B.E. & M. BROWN/ DRUM MANUFACTURERS,/ HAVE CONSTANTLY FOR SALE/ BASS AND COMMON/ DRUMS/ MADE IN THE NEATEST AND BEST MANNER/ Windsor (Conn) 1815."
To the right is an image of a B.E.&M. Brown label, courtesy of Sue Cifaldi.
Benjamin brown
19" diameter by 18" tall.
Benjamin Brown was born in 1748 and died in 1833.
It appears that the majority of original components of this drum are long gone, but the wonderful maple shell remains. No image of the label is available, but a description of it lists Benjamin Brown as the maker, along with a date of 1824. The familiar Brown family tack design is represented here centered around a bone ve
13" diameter by 11 1/2" tall.
Another drum attributed to Benjamin Brown of quite small dimensions, possibly a toy drum for a younger child. The artwork was almost definitely completed after purchase, as there is no indication that the Browns painted drums themselves.
Pictures and information from Matt Alling.
The restored drum is seen here the the right.
The label is somewhat obscured by an old repair, but enough can be made out to easily determine the maker as Benjamin Brown dated 1822 No. 631.
The history of the drum was recorded on a typed piece of paper dated 1910, listing the history of the instrument and the players. It was first used during "Training Days" when the local militia practiced the various evolutions of soldiering.
eli Brown
17 1/2" diameter by 19 1/4" tall.
This drum sports a maple shell and signature "Brown" family tack design centered around a bone vent insert. It is pictured here in its untouched condition. The cord is five strand hemp, which can be seen on the lower left of this image.
A few original leather braces remained on the drum with a distinct pinked rounded edge. Another interesting feature is the use of twine to hold the braces together.
The gut is sliced from a single piece attached to the flesh hoop with three small round tacks. The individual strands of gut were then twisted and passed through the other side between the flesh hoop and counter hoop. No evidence of a strainer is present.
The counter hoops stand 1 1/2" tall and are secured with a single row of three iron nails.
A full label exists that reads, "ELI BROWN/ DRUM MANUFACTURER,/ HAS CONSTANTLY FOR SALE,/ BASS AND SNARE/ DRUMS,/ AND TAMBARINES,/ Made in the Neatest and Best Manner,/ WINDSOR, Con. 1825 No. 1227"
I am not sure if the handwritten "No." is correct.
To the right is an image of John F. Curtiss. Mr. Curtiss was born on November 2, 1811 in Middlesex, Connecticut. In this image, a much aged John Curtiss proudly stands for the photographer with his Eli Brown made drum. It is the same drum described above. If you look closely, you can see a singular tack is missing in the same location as in the image.
William Brown
The drum pictured here has undergone some restoration with the addition of iron hooks, possibly newer counter hoops, and leather braces. The bottom skin looks very white, so that may be new as well. Part of the collection of Windsor Historic Society.
William Brown was born in 1802 and died in 1825. He was the cousin of Eli Brown and most likely made his living selling drums. Sue Cifaldi writes the following at the time of his death: "However, a miscellany of drum-making materiel such as cord, brass nails, and several types of skins were counted along with 59 drums in various stages of construction. This amounted to almost 30% of the entire est
The advertisement to the right is from the Middlesex Gazette dated April 26, 1831. Part of the ad reads, "Bass and Tenor DRUMS, of Brown's Manufacture."