congaplace.com

I am wondering why an LP Classic "Tumba" that I have just grabbed has got 12" head size
The badge says Garfield, NJ plus there is a small round badge stating s.th about 20th anniversary,
so I guess the drum was made in 1984?
Everything looks like the real deal, no cracks, still fine traditional chrome hardware etc.
BTW funnily enough the drum has solid staves, oak, I presume. Or did LP use Thai wood in the 1980s already?

Just wondering about the diameter. Precisely speaking it is 31cm which equals 12.2" if I am not wrong.
Has the drum shell shrunk in those 25 years? At least we do as we are knocking on a bit, don´t we?

So, are there any hints from you oldtimers out there?

There was a transition period when some stuff was still being made in NJ and some in Thailand but I believe that any wood drum that has a Garfield label was made in Thailand and could be as early as 1980. Some slight variation in size was more normal then than now.

Yep. Psych hit the nail on the head.

OK, thanks for the answers so far.
I like the drum, it has a nice sound.
BTW the shell contour also slightly deviates
from todays LP congas as it is wider at the bottom.
And the drum is pretty heavy too..
With a nice new skin it should make a difference.
At least I give it a warm welcome to my other
mismatched LP tumbadores