Hawkes
& Sons were already making fine orchestral drums at the turn of the
20th century and launched the Ajax brand in 1927. In 1930 they merged
with Boosey & Co and used the pyramid badge from 1935 and launched
their own Imperial-style lugs shortly before the war. After the war the
lugs were redesigned again with a very sophisticated spring-loaded
self-aligning action and fitted to their De Luxe drums with brass oval
badges.
In 1957, in response to the Group Explosion, they launched Edgware and Stratford brands offering one standard configuration in many finishes with fewer lugs. There began in 1961 a partnership with Rogers, where Ajax shells were fitted with first imported, then domestic Rogers lugs and Swiv-o-Matic hardware. The fittings are incompatible but identical in appearance. Boosey & Hawkes continued with their four lines until 1967 when their only offering was the radical Nu Sound kit. It actually used the cheaper, 7 ply shell but retained the Ajax name.
In 1970 B&H stopped manufacturing drums, retired the Ajax brand and began distributing Beverley drums, made in the Premier factory.
In 1957, in response to the Group Explosion, they launched Edgware and Stratford brands offering one standard configuration in many finishes with fewer lugs. There began in 1961 a partnership with Rogers, where Ajax shells were fitted with first imported, then domestic Rogers lugs and Swiv-o-Matic hardware. The fittings are incompatible but identical in appearance. Boosey & Hawkes continued with their four lines until 1967 when their only offering was the radical Nu Sound kit. It actually used the cheaper, 7 ply shell but retained the Ajax name.
In 1970 B&H stopped manufacturing drums, retired the Ajax brand and began distributing Beverley drums, made in the Premier factory.
