Slingerland · Radio King drum set · 1936–1957
Slingerland launched the Radio King name in 1936 and 1937, and through the swing era it sat on the company's best snares and on whole outfits built around them. Gene Krupa was Slingerland's first endorser, and at his urging the company made tom-toms with tunable top and bottom heads. One of his Slingerland bass drums, a 14 x 26 inscribed with his and Benny Goodman's initials, is in the Smithsonian. The 1951 catalog's Gene Krupa Deluxe Radio King ensemble came with a 14 x 24 or 14 x 26 bass drum, a 9 x 13 tom and a 16 x 16 floor tom, in pearls such as Marine and Black Diamond or in sparkling silver, gold, red and green. The shells are three plies of mahogany and poplar with solid maple reinforcing rings, warm and quick to die away. Buddy Rich played a refurbished 1940s Radio King set from his 1983 heart attack until his death in 1987. The name left the catalog in 1957, so every original Radio King kit is a Chicago drum. Buy the set whose badges, ring widths and wrap seams all point to the same few years.
Inside the shellRadio King drum set
No Slingerland drum carried a serial number before October 1962, so the badge does the dating. Cloud-shaped brass badges run from 1928 to about 1948, aluminum cloud badges mark 1944–1946, the first large oval appears in late 1947, a brass dog-tag oval covers 1953–1956, and the black and brass Chicago oval with a loop on the script S runs 1956–1959. Inside, early Radio King toms and bass drums (1936–1941) often have a third reinforcing ring in the middle of the shell, rings are about 2¼ inches wide on toms through 1955, and on shells made before 1957 the wrap is laminated into the shell's lap joint.
Many Radio King shells have been re-wrapped, and bass drums often carry extra holes from later tom mounts. Kits get assembled from drums of different years, which shows up as mismatched badges and ring widths.
Buying guide
We'd buy the blue Duco 4-piece at $1,740 delivered from a drum shop with 99.7% feedback, the lowest delivered kit here with shipping stated. We found only three Radio King kits for sale, so the $2,300–3,450 delivered band is a thin read. The 1940s marble lacquer set asks $925 but states no shipping and its photo shows a bass drum and two toms, so ask what's included and get a freight quote or plan to pick it up. Slingerland didn't serial-number drums before 1962, so ask for photos of every badge, the inside of each shell and the wrap seams, which should all point to the same few years. The five-piece titled 20's pre-war at $4,000 claims a date before Radio King began in 1936, so let its badges settle the year before you offer.
$925.00+ ship
The lowest ask, a set titled 1940s in marble lacquer at $925, but no shipping is stated and the photo shows a bass drum and two toms. Ask what's included and get a freight quote or arrange pickup.
1940s Slingerland Radio King set in Marble Lacquer
$1,739.99est. delivered
A blue Duco 4-piece from a drum shop at $1,740 delivered, well under the other dealer kit. Ask for photos of each badge and inside each shell to confirm the drums come from the same years.
Used Vintage Slingerland Radio King 4pc Drum Set Blue Duco - Good
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 12, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 12, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$925.00+ shipping
$925.00 · shipping not stated
Buy It Now$925.00
Good buy
Titled 1940s marble lacquer. No shipping stated, so plan on pickup or freight.
Seller: l_l_l_l_l_l
100% positive
Used$1,739.99est. delivered
$1,539.99 + $200.00 shipping
Buy It Now$1,539.99
Good buy
Blue Duco 4-piece, titled Good. Ask for badge photos.
Seller: drumcenternh
99.7% positive
Used$3,999.99delivered
$3,999.99 · free shipping
Buy It Now$3,999.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Our take
Titled 20's, but Radio King began in 1936. Seller at 97.8%. Free shipping.
Seller: allstarmusicstore
97.8% positive
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 12, 2026.
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