Replies

1. 
   john_c2 | Nov 12, 2020 01:35am | #1

   It's really hard to say, from the condition. My first reaction is cherry.

2. 
   mikaol | Nov 12, 2020 08:38pm | #2

   I have to go with John's assumption. Just remember, age and gravity get us all.

3. 
   tothehilt | Nov 12, 2020 10:19pm | #3

   Sorry, I was t clear. Not asking about the wood, it is mahogany, I believe, but the unusual pattern in the wood. Seems like an insect, or perhaps something man made. Pretty sure if it was insect it wasn’t done after drum was made.

1. 
   john_c2 | Nov 13, 2020 01:22am | #4

   I really doubt it is mahogany. I'd bet money against it. And I highly doubt they would have used insect riddled wood to make a drum, so that damage came after manufacture.

   Termite mud tunnels can leave marks like that.

4. 
   jake_w | Nov 13, 2020 06:56am | #5

   Looking closely at this veneer, I suspect this is a man made addition. The tunnels track for a long distance in the plane of the veneer. There is no way an insect just happened to build a 12 inch long tunnel with that much variation in two directions and no movement into the third dimension. Best guess is that it was a burning technique to create this.

5. 
   Beasley7 | Nov 13, 2020 04:25pm | #6

   I agree it's not bugs or worms. If it's smooth when you rub it, then it is likely part of the original design. If it is rough it was probably added later - either intentionally or accidentally.

6. 
   tothehilt | Nov 17, 2020 06:46pm | #7

   Thanks for you comments. I also inquired about this drum on a drum forum. One member had something similar that was created with the use of an electric charge across a wet shell, so that is probably the source of this. Another member felt sure it was mahogany. I think it could also be walnut. I do not know any other wood that was in use at that time for drum shells that would fit the color. I don’t think this is stained.