Hayman drum
Encyclopedia
Hayman drums were introduced in the late 1960s, being made by an English manufacturer. The idea was to come up with a drum series to compete with the success of the large American companies of the time.
The shells were thin walled with rings, and painted white with what they called "Vibrasonic" interiors. The lugs were essentially a copy of the Camco design. Hayman was out of business by 1975.
The company started with the name George Hayman on the badge, then shortened it to just Hayman in later years.
Hayman made the drum kits in only 3 brushed
metallic finishes; gold, silver and midnight blue."
Also Mitch Mitchell
from The Jimi Hendrix Experience
used to play Hayman drums for a few time, while Jon Hiseman
of Colosseum
sponsored the brand for a short period but never recording with it.
Also, each round badge on a Hayman drum has a patent number - giving the year of manufacture within the patent number.
Originally the drums were named George Hayman after one of the guys ` in Dallas-Arbiter's Shoeburyness factory (whose surname, to confuse things further, was actually Haymon) and, possibly, George Way who made the legendary Camcos. In further homage to that famous American marque, the set's nut boxes were also made circular, which was well avant-garde at the time. Anyway, the name was eventually shortened to the more identifiable Hayman.
The drums had a mixture of features which, prior to 1969, would only be seen on expensive American products. Triple-flange hoops, which gave a more open sound, very new to British drums, as were non-telescopic spurs, adjustable, swivelling shell mounts and cymbal arms and an abundance of tension screws and Reno heads.
Dallas-Arbiter designed their own cumbersome tom holder too, which might well have looked good on the drawing board, but in reality was something of a nightmare. A flat, curved and slotted rail was jacked up a little above the bass drum shell and to this was attached the body of the cast tom holder itself. This was fitted with not one, but two ratchets and by judicious use of both you could actually have exceedingly limited horizontal height adjustment. A radial-toothed block was fixed to the tom which mated with a ratchet on the holder to maintain its playing angle, and very large capstan nuts locked tom to holder and holder to bass drum rail. These capstans had an annoying tendency to crush your fingers against the drum and were neither particularly stable nor hard wearing. But at the time, it was the best around. Hayman spurs were modelled on Ludwig type outrigger designs, but with large, cast circular holder blocks which matched the nut boxes and also located the tom legs. Hayman's 'lightning-bolt' bass drum tensioners were the first that were ergonomically designed to ease operation - they were shaped to accommodate the thumbs better.
The Dallas-Arbiter company also produced pretty good double-braced, tripod-based stands and pedals called Speedamatic, which were actually a lot more substantial and sophisticated than the majority of their competition. They're no doubt still seeing service in drum sets almost a quarter of a century after their conception. The snare stand was the first in Britain to use a basket-holding mechanism while the wide, industrial-fibre-belted bass pedal and double-sprung hi-hat (both featuring easily adjustable springs) were particularly were worthy. They were more rugged than just about anything else on the market, although the extremely chunky, scalloped cast screws which arrested all the adjustable bits did leave something to be desired.
Initially the Hayman snare drums all had 5½" deep wooden shells in common with the rest of the drums, but a year or so later aluminium-shelled versions were introduced. They were loosely modelled along the lines of Ludwig
's 400, although in appearance, their shells were much more like Gretsch's. I'm told they didn't make too many metal drums so they’re evidently quite collectable.
Hayman were the first non-American snare drums to have ten tensioners per head and boasted a simple, but effective American-style on/off strainer attached to a 22 strand snare. They also had an American-style swivelling damper like Ludwig's.
When they were first introduced in August 1969, a five drum Showman set without stands would have cost £265.
The shells were thin walled with rings, and painted white with what they called "Vibrasonic" interiors. The lugs were essentially a copy of the Camco design. Hayman was out of business by 1975.
The company started with the name George Hayman on the badge, then shortened it to just Hayman in later years.
Hayman made the drum kits in only 3 brushed
Brushed metal
Brushed metal is metal that has been abraded , usually with a fine grit sandpaper. The brushing gives the metal a distinctive look, as it retains some but not all of its metallic lustre and is given a pattern of very fine lines. It can be compared to metal with several small scratches all running...
metallic finishes; gold, silver and midnight blue."
Users
- Michael GilesMichael GilesMichael Giles is an English drummer, best known as a co-founder of King Crimson in 1969...
of King CrimsonKing CrimsonKing Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history... - Jim CapaldiJim CapaldiNicola James "Jim" Capaldi was an English musician and songwriter. His musical career lasted more than four decades. He co-founded Traffic in Birmingham with Steve Winwood, and the band's psychedelic rock was influential in Britain and the United States...
of Traffic (band)Traffic (band)Traffic were an English rock band whose members came from the West Midlands. The group formed in April 1967 by Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood and Dave Mason... - Aynsley DunbarAynsley DunbarAynsley Thomas Dunbar is an English drummer. He has worked with some of the top names in rock, including Eric Burdon, John Mayall, Frank Zappa, Ian Hunter, Lou Reed, Jefferson Starship, Jeff Beck, David Bowie, Whitesnake, Sammy Hagar, UFO, and Journey...
in the early 70's - Bill BrufordBill BrufordWilliam Scott "Bill" Bruford is an English drummer, percussionist, composer, producer, and record label owner. He was the original drummer for the progressive rock group Yes, from 1968-1972. Bruford has performed for numerous popular acts since the early 1970s, including a stint as touring...
of YesYes (band)Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
and King CrimsonKing CrimsonKing Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history... - Wilgar CampbellWilgar CampbellWilgar Campbell was an Irish blues rock musician, best known for his role as drummer with Rory Gallagher in the early 1970s.-Career:Campbell played with local band The Method, who moved to London in 1968 and became Andwella's Dream...
of Rory GallagherRory GallagherWilliam Rory Gallagher, ; 2 March 1948 – 14 June 1995, was an Irish blues-rock multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and bandleader. Born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland, and raised in Cork, Gallagher recorded solo albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, after forming the band Taste...
band - Ted McKennaTed McKennaEdward 'Ted' McKenna , is a Scottish drummer who has played with the bands Tear Gas, Rory Gallagher, The Party Boys, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band and The Michael Schenker Group. He also toured with Ian Gillan for a short period alongside fellow former SAHB bassist, Chris Glen...
(until 1978) of Rory GallagherRory GallagherWilliam Rory Gallagher, ; 2 March 1948 – 14 June 1995, was an Irish blues-rock multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and bandleader. Born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland, and raised in Cork, Gallagher recorded solo albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, after forming the band Taste...
band - John WilsonJohn Wilson (musician)John Wilson is a musician from Northern Ireland. He has had a prolific career, playing drums with bands such as Them, Taste and Stud. Previously with 'The Misfits', Wilson became a member of one of the numerous line-ups of Them from September 1965 to March 1966...
of TasteTaste (band)Taste was an Irish rock and blues band formed in 1966 that gained fame in large part because of their unique style, and the talent and charisma of the band's founder, songwriter and musician Rory Gallagher... - Rob TownsendRob TownsendRob Townsend is a British rock and blues drummer. He was influenced by jazz greats such as Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa and is best known for being the drummer for progressive rock band Family and later The Blues Band....
of FamilyFamilyIn human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children... - Ric ParnellRic ParnellRichard "Ric" J. Parnell is an English rock drummer. Although notable for his work in the band Atomic Rooster, he probably best known for his role as the ill-fated drummer Mick Shrimpton in the film This is Spinal Tap....
of Atomic RoosterAtomic RoosterAtomic Rooster were an English progressive rock band, composed of former members of the The Crazy World of Arthur Brown. Throughout their history, keyboardist Vincent Crane was the only constant member, and wrote the majority of their material. Their history is defined by two periods, in the early...
Also Mitch Mitchell
Mitch Mitchell
John Ronald "Mitch" Mitchell was an English drummer, best known for his work in The Jimi Hendrix Experience.-Early life and the Jimi Hendrix Experience:...
from The Jimi Hendrix Experience
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
The Jimi Hendrix Experience were an English-American psychedelic rock band that formed in London in October 1966. Comprising eponymous singer-songwriter and guitarist Jimi Hendrix, bassist and backing vocalist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell, the band was active until June 1969, in which...
used to play Hayman drums for a few time, while Jon Hiseman
Jon Hiseman
Jon Hiseman is an English drummer, recording engineer, record producer and music publisher.-Career:...
of Colosseum
Colosseum
The Colosseum, or the Coliseum, originally the Flavian Amphitheatre , is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire...
sponsored the brand for a short period but never recording with it.
Dating Hayman Drums
- If the badge and/or snare strainer says "George Hayman", then it is from 1968-69.
- If the badge is a 4 cm brass one with "Hayman - then it is around 1969-73
- If the badge is smaller and silver then it is one of the last to be made during 74/75.
Also, each round badge on a Hayman drum has a patent number - giving the year of manufacture within the patent number.
History
"They were the brainchild of Ivor Arbiter who besides being the first to actually bring guitars into Britain in quantity was also the first to import Ludwig and Gretsch drums during the `beat boom'. It was he who, in the sixties, cleverly identified a gap in the market for a LOUD drum set at a time when drummers were seldom miked-up outside of the studio. The original plan was to ht metal liners inside the shells of rather ordinary beech Carlton drums and, indeed, some of these were actually made. Ultimately they discarded the metal inserts, which were weighty and expensive and instead chose to thickly coat the drums' interior surfaces. Bingo! Loud and extremely cutting drums were here.Originally the drums were named George Hayman after one of the guys ` in Dallas-Arbiter's Shoeburyness factory (whose surname, to confuse things further, was actually Haymon) and, possibly, George Way who made the legendary Camcos. In further homage to that famous American marque, the set's nut boxes were also made circular, which was well avant-garde at the time. Anyway, the name was eventually shortened to the more identifiable Hayman.
The drums had a mixture of features which, prior to 1969, would only be seen on expensive American products. Triple-flange hoops, which gave a more open sound, very new to British drums, as were non-telescopic spurs, adjustable, swivelling shell mounts and cymbal arms and an abundance of tension screws and Reno heads.
Dallas-Arbiter designed their own cumbersome tom holder too, which might well have looked good on the drawing board, but in reality was something of a nightmare. A flat, curved and slotted rail was jacked up a little above the bass drum shell and to this was attached the body of the cast tom holder itself. This was fitted with not one, but two ratchets and by judicious use of both you could actually have exceedingly limited horizontal height adjustment. A radial-toothed block was fixed to the tom which mated with a ratchet on the holder to maintain its playing angle, and very large capstan nuts locked tom to holder and holder to bass drum rail. These capstans had an annoying tendency to crush your fingers against the drum and were neither particularly stable nor hard wearing. But at the time, it was the best around. Hayman spurs were modelled on Ludwig type outrigger designs, but with large, cast circular holder blocks which matched the nut boxes and also located the tom legs. Hayman's 'lightning-bolt' bass drum tensioners were the first that were ergonomically designed to ease operation - they were shaped to accommodate the thumbs better.
The Dallas-Arbiter company also produced pretty good double-braced, tripod-based stands and pedals called Speedamatic, which were actually a lot more substantial and sophisticated than the majority of their competition. They're no doubt still seeing service in drum sets almost a quarter of a century after their conception. The snare stand was the first in Britain to use a basket-holding mechanism while the wide, industrial-fibre-belted bass pedal and double-sprung hi-hat (both featuring easily adjustable springs) were particularly were worthy. They were more rugged than just about anything else on the market, although the extremely chunky, scalloped cast screws which arrested all the adjustable bits did leave something to be desired.
Initially the Hayman snare drums all had 5½" deep wooden shells in common with the rest of the drums, but a year or so later aluminium-shelled versions were introduced. They were loosely modelled along the lines of Ludwig
Ludwig-Musser
Ludwig-Musser is a drum and percussion instrument manufacturer that is part of the Conn-Selmer division of Steinway Musical Instruments.The first product made by the Ludwig brothers, William and Theobaldner , was a bass drum pedal capable of playing faster beats than was typical of products of the...
's 400, although in appearance, their shells were much more like Gretsch's. I'm told they didn't make too many metal drums so they’re evidently quite collectable.
Hayman were the first non-American snare drums to have ten tensioners per head and boasted a simple, but effective American-style on/off strainer attached to a 22 strand snare. They also had an American-style swivelling damper like Ludwig's.
Sizes
Size-wise Hayman sets originally came with 22", 20" or 18" bass drums and 12", 13", 14" and 16" toms, but eventually 24", 26" and even 28" basses appeared. The jazzers of the time went for the 18"x 12", 12"x8" and 14"x14" Recording outfit, while the rockers went for the larger-sized Showmans.Sound
The secret of the Hayman sound was in the interior coating. It was rather grandly called Vibrasonic but was simply a thickish, sprayed-on coat of ordinary white polyurethane paint (originally with an unfortunate tendency to craze). Its function was to harden the surface of the drum, allowing the sound to bounce around inside and give more `crack'. Hayman drums didn't sound exactly warm but, for the mostly un-amplified drummers of the time, fitted the bill exactly. They cut through any sort of music at high levels.Finishes
The original Haymans were only available in three brushed metallic finishes: Solid Silver, Gold Ingot and Midnight Blue, (Regal Red, Matt Black, Natural Pine and see-through Iceberg were introduced later) the first five of which were also used to cover refrigerators!When they were first introduced in August 1969, a five drum Showman set without stands would have cost £265.