Slingerland · Radio King snare · 1936–1957, then again from the early 1960s
The Radio King made Slingerland's name. It arrived in 1936 and 1937 with a shell steam-bent from one piece of maple and held round by solid maple reinforcing rings, while most snares of the day used plies of mahogany. Gene Krupa was the company's first endorser, and the catalogs sold it as the Gene Krupa Radio King in depths from 5½ to 8 inches. In 1940 the Super Gene Krupa Radio King added 16 small beavertail lugs, 7 or 8 inch shells, engraved hoops and a new strainer that collectors call the clamshell, while the regular model kept the 3-point Radio King strainer. The name left the line in 1957 and came back in the early 1960s, and catalogs kept listing a solid maple shell, though Slingerland historian Carl Wenk found that almost no solid maple snares were actually made from 1965 to 1970. Many professional drummers were still playing old Radio Kings in 2017 while endorsing other brands, and Slingerland now builds solid maple Radio Kings again in Oxnard, California. Check the shell at the edge first, then let the badge, strainer and hoops place the year.
Inside the shellRadio King snare
Slingerland drums had no serial numbers before October 1962, so start with the badge. Tan and brass cloud badges run 1928–1943, aluminum cloud badges mark 1944–1946, the large oval appears in late 1947, the stamped brass dog-tag oval covers 1953–1956, and the black and brass Chicago oval runs 1956–1961. Niles badges start in April 1961. The clamshell strainer dates a Super model to 1940 through early 1962, and rim-shot counterhoops were new in the 1955 catalog. Solid maple snare shells were made from 1934 to 1964, and Carl Wenk found that almost none were built from 1965 to 1970 even though the catalogs still listed them.
Strainers and hoops get swapped over the decades, and solid shells can crack or go out of round. A 1965–1970 drum sold as solid maple needs a shell photo to back it up, since almost none were built that way in those years.
Buying guide
We'd buy the 1950s white marine pearl 5x14 titled solid shell at $666 delivered, a US listing about $135 under the band, and the one-piece maple shell is what makes a Radio King. There are at least 18 for sale and most ask $800–1,125 delivered, with Japanese dealers at the top because they add $150–300 shipping. Slingerland didn't serial-number drums before October 1962, so ask for photos of the badge, the strainer and the inside of the shell, and check the edges closely, since solid shells can crack or go out of round. The cheapest drum here is a 3-ply student model, not a solid shell, and we'd skip the 1951 maple drum from Japan at $3,507 delivered, over three times the median.
$446.31est. delivered
The lowest delivered drum here at $446, but it's titled a 40s student model with a 3-ply shell, not the solid maple Radio King shell. Buy it to play, and ask for photos of the strainer and edges.
Decolite Custom Snare Drum Slingerland Radio King Student 40s Vtg 7 x 14 3-Ply
$666.25est. delivered
A 5x14 in white marine pearl titled 1950s and solid shell, about $135 under the band at $666 delivered. Ask for the badge and an inside-shell photo to confirm the one-piece shell and the date.
Vintage Slingerland Radio King 5x14 1950s WMP solid Shell Snare Drum WMP
$1,086.12est. delivered
A 14x7 titled with the oval badge and calf heads and dated 1950 to 1953, inside the band at $1,086 delivered from Canada. Ask for a clear badge photo, since the large oval from late 1947 and the dog-tag oval from 1953 tell those years apart.
Vintage 14x7 SLINGERLAND Radio King oval badge snare drum calf skins 1950-1953
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$446.31est. delivered
$420.00 + $26.31 shipping
Buy It Now$420.00
Good buy
Titled 40s student model, 3-ply 7x14. Not a solid shell.
Seller: biggerspeck4tao
100% positive
Used$666.25est. delivered
$650.00 + $16.25 shipping
Buy It Now$650.00
Good buy
Titled 1950s WMP solid shell 5x14. Under the band.
Seller: billbo_bargains
99.8% positive
Used$1,086.12est. delivered
$908.33 + $177.79 shipping
Buy It Now$908.33
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled oval badge, calf heads, 1950 to 1953. Ships from Canada.
Seller: guiloz35
100% positive
Used$710.00est. delivered
$675.00 + $35.00 shipping
Buy It Now$675.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled solid shell, no year or size. Ask for the badge.
Seller: breadandbudda
100% positive
Used$831.00est. delivered
$789.00 + $42.00 shipping
Buy It Now$789.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled Niles 60s solid maple. Niles badges start in 1961, so ask for an inside photo.
Seller: roadrunner69king
100% positive
Used$878.95est. delivered
$849.00 + $29.95 shipping
Buy It Now$849.00
Our take
Titled 40s or 50s 7x14 with a calf head. Ask for the badge to pin the decade.
Seller: craigd222
100% positive
Used$950.00est. delivered
$905.00 + $45.00 shipping
Buy It Now$905.00
Our take
Titled 1972 #111 7x14, the later Niles Radio King. Ask for an inside-shell photo.
Seller: counterhoop
99.9% positive
Used$3,506.50est. delivered
$3,206.50 + $300.00 shipping
Buy It Now$3,206.50
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
Titled 1951 maple. Over three times the median, with $300 shipping from Japan.
Seller: ocha4060
99.3% positive
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 12, 2026.
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