Timpani Picture Album

Colleague and timpanist (with Ton Koopman) Luuk Nagtegaal acquired some very nice instruments and had them restored. Especially this set of very small timpani is wonderful.
The instruments were built by J. Tournier, Boulevard St. Zartin 4, Paris and have diameters of 33 and 39 centimeters (13" and 15").

Another set of 19th century Lever Timpani. For this set the shape of the kettle is worth noting. Also this set was restored because it was in very bad condition when Luuk acquired the timpani.
Diameters 64cm and 73cm (25" and 29").
The builder of this set is unknown.

Details of the Lever mechanism.

The set is (obviously) fit with calfskin. See the detail at right of the way the head is attached to the hoop.

Here we see some late-19th-century T-screw timpani. Those timpani are still in use for all the Early Music concerts at the Royal Conservatory of Music in The Hague, The Netherlands. They are owned by the Percussion Department.
The head is of first quality calf skin.

The Tension screws are connected to the kettle with a beautifully decorated construction. The kettles of both models are still in perfect condition.
The sound is perfect for the small Early Music Baroque Orchestras.

Another beautiful set of Baroque timpani belonging to the collection of Ton Koopman Timpanist Luuk Nagtegaal.
Note the special shape and size of the tension screws!
Also note that those tension screws are much longer than the ones used with the timpani above.

Puschmann Timpani

Completely by accident I discovered that the local museum in my hometown had a pair of Puschmann Timpani in their collection. The Timpani where slightly changed and improved.

All photos by Marc Zoutendijk - private collection