Rogers Drums
Rogers Drums is an American drum brand known for its Dyna-Sonic snare, innovative hardware, and important role in twentieth-century jazz, swing, and rock drumming.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Rogers Drums is an American drum brand whose roots extend to 1849, when Irish immigrant James Rogers began making drum heads in New York. The business initially centered on leather and drum-head production rather than complete drum kits. A later tannery operated by James Rogers's son, Joseph H. Rogers Jr., in Farmingdale, New Jersey, provided the foundation for the family business's eventual move into drum manufacturing. In the 1930s, James Rogers's grandson Cleveland S. Rogers began producing drums under the Rogers name. The earliest instruments combined shells and hardware obtained from other manufacturers with Rogers drum heads. The brand's decisive transformation came in 1955, when Cleveland Rogers sold the company to Henry Grossman. Grossman moved operations to Covington, Ohio, and developed Rogers into one of the leading American drum makers of the postwar period. Design engineer Joe Thompson and marketing manager Ben Strauss were central to the company's product development and market presence. During the 1950s and 1960s, Rogers became particularly associated with big-band and swing drummers, while also gaining acceptance among musicians connected with Dixieland jazz and, later, classic rock. Its products were used both as complete drum kits and as individual components added to instruments from competing manufacturers. Rogers's strongest technical reputation rested on its snare drums and hardware. The Dyna-Sonic, introduced around 1961, used a separate snare-wire support cradle that allowed the wires to be tensioned independently from the pressure holding them against the bottom head. This arrangement, combined with a notably shallow snare bed, was intended to preserve head response while producing a crisp and articulate snare sound. The Powertone snare and Holiday drums were other important products. Rogers also built fiberglass Accu-Sonic timpani and developed the Swiv-o-Matic range of pedals, hi-hat mechanisms, cymbal stands, and tom-tom mounts. Its ball-and-socket positioning systems were influential beyond the brand and were used by prominent drummers who otherwise played instruments made by Ludwig, Premier, Slingerland, or other companies. CBS Musical Instruments acquired Rogers in 1966, following its acquisition of Fender and Rhodes. In 1969, production moved from Ohio to a Fullerton, California complex associated with Fender. Rogers also supported the European market through licensed production by Ajax in the United Kingdom, where Ajax supplied shells while Rogers hardware was used. During the 1970s, the company introduced Memriloc hardware, a highly stable mounting concept associated with Dave Donoho and Roy Burns that anticipated many later drum-hardware systems. Its XP-8 series, introduced in 1978, used thicker eight-ply shells supplied by Keller Products and emphasized projection and attack. CBS sold Rogers and Fender in 1983 to managers associated with the Fender division. The new owners discontinued the Rogers drum line soon afterward. From 1984 to 1998, the Rogers name was controlled by Island Music, which used it on lower-cost imported instruments modeled after the earlier Big R era. Brook Mays Music Company acquired the name in 1998 and relaunched Rogers as a beginner-oriented import brand sold through its own music-store chain. Brook Mays entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2006, and Yamaha Corporation of America acquired Rogers intellectual-property rights at a court-supervised auction that year. Yamaha presented a new Rogers range at the 2007 NAMM Show. In 2013, Rogers rights were acquired by Joseph Chen, then president of Dixon Drums. The revived brand focused on handcrafted snare drums and drew heavily on classic Rogers hardware designs. It also reissued a five-ply maple Dyna-Sonic incorporating the Clock Face double-rail strainer and re-engineered Bread and Butter lugs. Rogers therefore occupies two positions in drum history: a heritage American manufacturer associated with influential mid-century instruments, and a periodically revived brand whose later owners have used its historic designs and name for new products.
History
Rogers Drums began in 1849 as a drum-head business founded by James Rogers, an Irish immigrant from Dublin. The first operation was located in Brewster's Station, New York, where Rogers made drum heads. A second tannery was later established in Farmingdale, New Jersey, under the management of his son Joseph H. Rogers Jr. The family business did not initially resemble the complete-kit drum manufacturer for which Rogers later became known. Cleveland S. Rogers, James Rogers's grandson, began manufacturing drums under the Rogers name during the 1930s. Early instruments used shells and hardware sourced from other manufacturers but were fitted with Rogers heads. Cleveland, who had no heirs, sold the company to Henry Grossman in 1955. Grossman moved the company to Covington, Ohio, and built it into a major American drum manufacturer. Joe Thompson contributed substantially to product engineering, while Ben Strauss handled marketing during the brand's most influential period. From the mid-1950s through the late 1960s, Rogers developed a strong professional reputation. Its instruments were used across several musical eras, including Dixieland jazz, swing, big band, and the rock music of the 1960s and 1970s. The company was especially linked with big-band and swing drummers of the 1940s and 1950s, although its hardware found users among rock drummers who played other brands' shells. The Dyna-Sonic snare became the company's signature product. Produced from approximately 1961 into the mid-1980s, it used a special cradle to support the snare wires. The design separated the tension applied to the wires from the force pressing them against the resonant head. This helped maintain head vibration while permitting a tight, articulate snare response. Most Dyna-Sonic drums used chrome-over-brass shells, while wood-shell examples were comparatively uncommon. Rogers also produced Powertone snares, Holiday tom-toms and bass drums, and Accu-Sonic fiberglass timpani. Rogers was equally notable for hardware. Joe Thompson's Swiv-o-Matic range included bass-drum pedals, hi-hats, cymbal stands, and tom-tom holders. The ball-and-socket adjustment system gave drummers flexible positioning and became influential in later hardware design. The brand's equipment was used by players including Ringo Starr, Mitch Mitchell, John Bonham, and Keith Moon, even when their primary drum kits came from other manufacturers. Neil Peart used a Rogers Dyna-Sonic snare on several early Rush recordings and toured with Rogers hardware, including a Swiv-o-Matic tom holder. From 1964 to 1975, Rogers shells generally used five alternating maple and birch plies with reinforcement rings. Later five-ply construction continued through the late 1970s. In 1978, the XP-8 line introduced eight-ply shells supplied by Keller Products without reinforcement rings. These thicker shells emphasized projection and attack and reflected the period's interest in powerful, high-volume drum sounds. In 1976, Rogers introduced Memriloc hardware, developed with Dave Donoho and Roy Burns. Its locking and positioning principles anticipated systems later adopted in various forms by other manufacturers. CBS Musical Instruments acquired Rogers in 1966. Production moved in 1969 from Covington to Fullerton, California, where Rogers operated in a factory complex also associated with Fender. Rogers products were also manufactured for the European market under license by Ajax in the United Kingdom. Ajax supplied the shells while Rogers hardware was used, giving the brand a regional production base and wider distribution. After CBS sold Rogers and Fender in 1983, the new owners discontinued Rogers drums soon afterward. Island Music controlled the name between 1984 and 1998 and used it for inexpensive imported instruments modeled on the earlier Big R designs. Brook Mays Music Company acquired the name in 1998 and relaunched it as a low-cost beginner line sold through its own music-store chain. The company's 2006 Chapter 11 filing resulted in a bankruptcy-court auction, at which Yamaha Corporation of America acquired the Rogers intellectual-property rights. Yamaha showed a new Rogers range at NAMM in 2007. In 2013, Joseph Chen, then president of Dixon Drums, acquired the rights. The brand was revived around handcrafted snare drums that reused or adapted several classic Rogers hardware concepts. Among the revived products was a five-ply maple Dyna-Sonic featuring a Clock Face double-rail strainer and redesigned Bread and Butter lugs. The publicly documented history establishes multiple ownership and product phases, but the supplied sources do not establish a current corporate owner, headquarters, or current production status.
- 2013
Joseph Chen revives the brand
[1]Joseph Chen acquires Rogers rights and reorients the brand toward handcrafted snare drums based on historic designs.
- 2006
Yamaha acquires Rogers intellectual property
[1]Yamaha Corporation of America purchases the Rogers intellectual-property rights at a bankruptcy-court auction involving Brook Mays.
- 1998
Brook Mays relaunches Rogers as an import brand
[1]Brook Mays Music Company acquires the name and introduces a beginner-oriented line sold through its retail stores.
- 1983
Rogers is sold and the original line is discontinued
[1]CBS sells Rogers and Fender; the new owners subsequently discontinue the Rogers drum line.
- 1978
XP-8 series launches
[1]The XP-8 line introduces thicker eight-ply Keller shells without reinforcement rings, emphasizing projection and attack.
- 1976
Memriloc hardware is introduced
[1]Rogers introduces Memriloc, a stable positioning and locking approach for drum hardware associated with Dave Donoho and Roy Burns.
- 1969
Manufacturing moves to Fullerton, California
[1]Rogers production is transferred from Ohio to a Fullerton factory complex also used by Fender.
- 1966
CBS Musical Instruments acquires Rogers
[1]Rogers joins the CBS Musical Instruments portfolio alongside Fender and Rhodes.
- 1961
Dyna-Sonic snare enters production
[1]Rogers develops its signature Dyna-Sonic snare, distinguished by an independently tensioned snare-wire cradle.
- 1955
Henry Grossman acquires and relocates the company
[1]Henry Grossman buys Rogers from Cleveland S. Rogers and moves operations to Covington, Ohio.
Products and positioning
A historically significant American drum brand positioned around engineering innovation, distinctive mid-century sound, professional hardware, and heritage instruments. Later owners also used the name for beginner imports and revived handcrafted snare drums.
Snare drum · 1961
Dyna-Sonic
Rogers's best-known snare drum, produced from approximately 1961 into the mid-1980s. Its defining feature was a cradle that supported the snare wires separately from the force pressing them against the bottom head. This allowed tight wire tension while reducing the damping or choking effect that could limit head vibration. Most examples had chrome-over-brass shells, while wood-shell versions were comparatively scarce. The model was later revived in a five-ply maple form with updated versions of classic Rogers strainer and lug designs.
Snare drum
Powertone
A notable Rogers snare-drum model from the brand's principal American manufacturing era. The Powertone complemented the Dyna-Sonic in Rogers's professional snare range and contributed to the company's reputation for articulate, responsive drums. The supplied reference material identifies it as an important Rogers model but does not provide a complete production chronology or current availability.
Acoustic drum kit
Holiday
A Rogers line covering tom-toms and bass drums during the company's mid-century period. Holiday drums formed part of the classic Rogers kit identity associated with professional jazz, swing, and later rock players. The reference material does not specify a single launch date, full configuration range, or current production status.
Drum hardware
Swiv-o-Matic
An innovative family of Rogers hardware including bass-drum pedals, hi-hats, cymbal stands, and tom-tom holders. Its ball-and-socket adjustment system allowed flexible positioning and stable setup. Swiv-o-Matic components became influential beyond Rogers and were used by drummers whose main kits came from other manufacturers.
Timpani
Accu-Sonic
A Rogers line of fiberglass timpani manufactured for a period during the company's broader expansion beyond conventional drum kits. The reference material identifies the instruments and their fiberglass construction but does not document a precise launch date or current availability.
Acoustic drum kit · 1978
XP-8
Introduced in 1978, the XP-8 series used eight-ply shells made by Keller Products and omitted the reinforcement rings used on many earlier Rogers shells. The thicker construction emphasized attack, volume, and projection, reflecting the performance requirements of large venues and amplified music. Rogers promoted the series as a high point in its product development.
Brand decisions
2013
Revive Rogers around handcrafted snare drumsProduct launchBackground
Joseph Chen, then president of Dixon Drums, acquired rights to the Rogers name and focused the revival on the brand's historical design equity.
Action taken
The revived line used Rogers hardware concepts from the 1950s and 1960s and included a five-ply maple Dyna-Sonic with a Clock Face double-rail strainer and re-engineered Bread and Butter lugs.
Aftermath
The strategy shifted Rogers away from its earlier beginner-import positioning toward heritage-oriented, handcrafted snare drums.
2006
Acquire Rogers intellectual-property rights through bankruptcy auctionM&ABackground
Brook Mays Music Company filed for Chapter 11 protection, placing its brand assets in a court-supervised restructuring process.
Action taken
Yamaha Corporation of America acquired the Rogers Drum Company intellectual-property rights at the bankruptcy auction.
Aftermath
Yamaha announced plans to build on the Rogers legacy and displayed new Rogers drums at NAMM in 2007.
1998
Reposition Rogers as a beginner import lineStrategyBackground
After years without the original American product line, Brook Mays Music Company acquired the Rogers name and sought to use its recognition in the retail market.
Action taken
Brook Mays introduced low-cost imported kits with maple-and-birch shells, beavertail lugs, and double-braced hardware, initially manufactured by Peace Drums in Taiwan.
Aftermath
The brand was sold through Brook Mays's own music-store chain until the company's 2006 bankruptcy proceedings.
1983
Discontinue the original Rogers drum lineStrategyBackground
CBS sold Rogers and Fender to a management group associated with the Fender division.
Action taken
The new owners ended the established Rogers drum-manufacturing line soon after the transaction.
Aftermath
The name later passed to Island Music, which used it for lower-cost imported copies and designs based on the earlier Big R era.
1978
Launch the XP-8 shell platformGeneration changeBackground
Rogers was responding to the growing demand for powerful, projecting drums suited to amplified performance and large venues.
Action taken
The company introduced eight-ply Keller shells without reinforcement rings for the XP-8 series.
Aftermath
The resulting drums emphasized attack and projection and became a notable late period in Rogers's original American production history.
1976
Introduce Memriloc hardwareProduct launchBackground
Drummers increasingly needed stable, adjustable hardware for larger and more complex kits.
Action taken
Rogers introduced Memriloc, a hardware system associated with Dave Donoho and Roy Burns that improved repeatable positioning and stability.
Aftermath
The concept became an important influence on later drum-hardware systems used across the industry.
1966
Join the CBS Musical Instruments portfolioM&ABackground
Rogers had become a prominent American drum manufacturer under Henry Grossman, while CBS was assembling a musical-instrument group that included Fender and Rhodes.
Action taken
CBS Musical Instruments acquired Rogers and subsequently integrated its manufacturing operations into the wider CBS instrument network.
Aftermath
Rogers production moved to Fullerton, California, in 1969, linking the brand operationally with the Fender factory complex.
Recent events
- 2013
Rogers rights acquired by Joseph Chen[1]
M&A · Product launch
Joseph Chen, then president of Dixon Drums, acquired rights to the Rogers name and revived it around handcrafted snare drums.
- 2007
Yamaha displays new Rogers drums at NAMM[1]
Product launch
Yamaha presented a new Rogers drum range at the NAMM Show after acquiring the brand's intellectual-property rights.
- 2006
Brook Mays Music Company files for Chapter 11[1]
Bankruptcy
Brook Mays, then owner of the Rogers name, sought bankruptcy protection, leading to a court-supervised sale of Rogers intellectual-property rights.
- 2006
Yamaha acquires Rogers intellectual-property rights[1]
M&A
Yamaha Corporation of America acquired the Rogers Drum Company intellectual-property rights at the Brook Mays bankruptcy auction.
- 1983
CBS sells Rogers and Fender[1]
M&A · Product generation
CBS sold Rogers and Fender to a group connected with the Fender division; the Rogers line was discontinued soon afterward.
- 1969
Rogers production moves to Fullerton[1]
Other
Manufacturing moved from Ohio to the Fullerton, California complex associated with Fender.
- 1966
CBS Musical Instruments acquires Rogers[1]
M&A
Rogers became part of CBS Musical Instruments, which had also acquired Fender and Rhodes.
Sources1 sources
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