The Drum's bell

[Lance Dean]

Here's a pic I took of the Drum's bell.  Tom I forgot to ask if this is the original bell?

[Tom Bowser]

As far as I know, never had asked about.
Tom

[Lance Dean]

As far as I know, never had asked about.
Tom

Not really something anyone would question.     I'd assume it is.  Just wondered about it as I was going through pictures.

[Paul Farace]

Sure is a nice bell. It does look different than other fleet boat bells. but that can be attributed to several factors:  DRUM was built before wartime restrictions so its bell might be more spiffy (lines around circumference) than later bells. It was not an EB boat (EB bells in later GATOs were plain Janes by comparison), it had a significant career and somewhere along the line it may have been plated, as were some later bells.  Fact is, with the cost os such things and the act that all the money traditionally went to the BB, you can be pretty sure nobody in AL would have likely spent the big bucks to replicate a bell for DRUM. DRUM is lucky to have her bell. COD's went missing when she arrived in Cleveland in 1959. Other museum boats have had to "buy" theirs back via ebay, etc., and sometimes have had to involve the NIS.

PF
 

[Tom Bowser]

The bell and a lot of other things on board may have been plated when it was a reserve boat. I will try to remember to ask crew in June.
Tom Bowser

[chris]

THERE IS A E-BAY ITEM FROM THE DRUM.ITEM #110251520664 IT IS A ASHTRAY,HEAVY METAL.IT SAYS USS DRUM LAUNCHED MAY 12 1941.NEAT!

[Tom Bowser]

Thanks I will check it out
Tom Bowser

[Lance Dean]

http://cgi.ebay.com/USS-DRUM-SUBMARINE-ASHTRAY-NAVY-METAL-U-S-S-NAVAL_W0QQitemZ110251520664QQihZ001QQcategoryZ585QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Ashtrays seem to be a common item.

[chris]

HELLO DRUMVOL:DID YOU BID ON THE DRUM ASHTRAY.I SEE SOME ACTION ON IT.I THINK 5 BIDS.IF YOU WIN WILL YOU PUT IT IN THE BOAT AND IF SO I HOPE SOMEWHERE IT CAN BE SEEN BUT NOT TOUCHED.

[Tom Bowser]

We are bidding on it and if we get it it will go in the wardroom or in the captains desk behind lexan with tamper proof screws, we want it to be visable also.
Tom Bowser

[chris]

HELLO TOM,
 DID YOU GET THE DRUM ASHTRAY?

[Tom Bowser]

I won't know until monday, our curator was bidding on it for me.
Tom Bowser

[chris]

GOOD LUCK I HOPE YOU GET IT.I MISSED OUT ON A CROAKER PLAQUE AWHILE BACK

[Paul Farace]

You have to snipe.

And you have to have deep pockets (if needed).

PF

[Lance Dean]

I won't know until monday, our curator was bidding on it for me.
Tom Bowser

Unless the curator is going by the name "dak21pz" and lives in San Dimas, CA, the item was lost. 

$77.01 with 12 bids.  I tell you, eBay frustrates the piss outta me when I try to win something.  Back 7 or 8 years ago, you could win stuff.  Now you have to sit there at the time of the auction ending and refresh like mad and even then you still have bad odds.

http://cgi.ebay.com/USS-DRUM-SUBMARINE-ASHTRAY-NAVY-METAL-U-S-S-NAVAL_W0QQitemZ110251520664QQihZ001QQcategoryZ585QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem?