Up for sale is a rare, complete piece of marching percussion history: an original pair of Ludwig No. 4200 Adjusta-Balance Tenor Mallets.
Dating back to the mid-1970s, this set was manufactured at the historic Ludwig Drum Co. factory on North Damen Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. They are completely unused, unplayed, and remain in their original factory plastic packaging.
Unlike most vintage pairs found today, this set includes the entire specialized weight-distribution system intact as originally shipped from the factory:
The Mallets: Premium lightweight aluminum shafts paired with solid wood ball heads for clean, articulate, and bright projection.
The Tuning Plugs: Includes the original internal balance weight plugs inside the bag.
The Adjustment Tool: Includes the original wooden dowel used to position the plugs within the hollow shafts to customize the stick's center of gravity (U.S. Patent No. 3,422,719).
Provenance: Includes the original paper factory inspector slip still sealed inside.
Mallets: Mint, flawless, and completely unplayed. The wood heads are clean and the aluminum shafts retain their original finish and factory stickers.
Packaging: The original factory plastic bag is present and holds all components securely. It shows typical light vintage shelf wear, cloudiness, and minor crinkling consistent with 50 years of careful storage.