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There are several instances of some sort of ancient instrument, consisting of metallic plates or rods, played by means of a hammer. Many have considered these to have been the original type of the modern instruments of percussion, where metal plates are vibrated by means of hammers or mallets.

Ancient Percussion

There are several instances of some sort of ancient instrument, consisting of metallic plates or rods,…

"The drum armature differs from the shuttle armature chiefly in that it employs many coils instead of one. The cylindrical iron core is made of thin disks of soft iron in insulated from each other, thus minimizing the 'local currents' and the heating effects thereof." — Avery, 1895

Drum armature

"The drum armature differs from the shuttle armature chiefly in that it employs many coils instead of…

Ancient forms of the harp, drum, flute, and castanets.

Assorted Musical Instruments

Ancient forms of the harp, drum, flute, and castanets.

An illustration of a little boy playing a drum.

Boy Playing Drum

An illustration of a little boy playing a drum.

"The capstan, in universal use, on board of ships, is an axle placed upright, with a head, or drum, A, pierced with holes for the levers B, C, D. The weight is drawn by the rope E, passing two or three times round the axle to prevent its slipping. This is a very powerful and convenient machine. When not in use, the levers are taken out of their places and laid aside, and when great force is required two or three men can push at each lever." —Comstock, 1850

Capstan

"The capstan, in universal use, on board of ships, is an axle placed upright, with a head, or drum,…

Three children playing with a cheerful man.

Cheerful Man

Three children playing with a cheerful man.

A pipecutter is a type of tool used by plumbers to cut pipe. Besides producing a clean cut, the tool is often a faster and more convenient way of cutting pipe than using a hacksaw, although this depends on the metal the pipe is made out of.

Pipe Cutter

A pipecutter is a type of tool used by plumbers to cut pipe. Besides producing a clean cut, the tool…

A very old form of a drum.

Drum

A very old form of a drum.

A drum with drumsticks.

Drum

A drum with drumsticks.

"In order to make the winding and connections clear, one coil and the commutator is shown assembled, although the latter is not put in place until after all the sections have been wound, the ends of the wires being temporarily twisted together until all can be soldered to the risers." — Hawkins, 1917

Siemens' drum winding

"In order to make the winding and connections clear, one coil and the commutator is shown assembled,…

A bass drum struck with a padded stick. It is more sonorous the larger it is.

Bass drum

A bass drum struck with a padded stick. It is more sonorous the larger it is.

A kettle-drum is a great hemispheric basin of copper, a sort of cauldron, covered with calfskin strained so tight to give it musical vibrations. It is usual to have two drums of unequal size.

Kettle Drum

A kettle-drum is a great hemispheric basin of copper, a sort of cauldron, covered with calfskin strained…

The maigre or shad-fish (Argyrosomus regius) is a solitary carnivorous drum in the Sciaenidae family.

Maigre

The maigre or shad-fish (Argyrosomus regius) is a solitary carnivorous drum in the Sciaenidae family.

This is a military drum, and is used in all rhythmic figures by means of alternate od simultaneous beatings with two drumsticks.

Side Drum

This is a military drum, and is used in all rhythmic figures by means of alternate od simultaneous beatings…

"Drumfish, or Drum, and other species of the same genus, fishes found on the Atlantic coasts of North America, and so named from the deep drumming sound they make in the water."—(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Drumfish

"Drumfish, or Drum, and other species of the same genus, fishes found on the Atlantic coasts of North…

Five drums.

Five Drums

Five drums.

Four drums.

Four Drums

Four drums.

An illustration of a mechanical kettledrum showing the system of cords inside. Timpani (also known colloquially as kettledrums or kettle drums) are musical instruments in the percussion family. A type of drum, they consist of a skin called a head stretched over a large bowl commonly made of copper. They are played by striking the head with a specialized drum stick called a timpani stick or timpani mallet. Unlike most drums, they produce a definite pitch when struck, and can be tuned, often with the use of a pedal. Timpani evolved from military drums to become a staple of the classical orchestra by the last third of the 18th century. Today, they are used in many types of musical ensembles including concert, marching, and even some rock bands.

Mechanical Kettledrum

An illustration of a mechanical kettledrum showing the system of cords inside. Timpani (also known colloquially…

An illustration of medieval kettledrums in the 14th century. Timpani (also known colloquially as kettledrums or kettle drums) are musical instruments in the percussion family. A type of drum, they consist of a skin called a head stretched over a large bowl commonly made of copper. They are played by striking the head with a specialized drum stick called a timpani stick or timpani mallet. Unlike most drums, they produce a definite pitch when struck, and can be tuned, often with the use of a pedal. Timpani evolved from military drums to become a staple of the classical orchestra by the last third of the 18th century. Today, they are used in many types of musical ensembles including concert, marching, and even some rock bands.

Medieval Kettledrum

An illustration of medieval kettledrums in the 14th century. Timpani (also known colloquially as kettledrums…

"The essential parts of an ordinary Wimshurst machine, are two ordinary drums. On each plate are fixed a large number of strips of conducting material which are equal in size and are equally spaced, radially if on a plate, and circumferentially if on a drum." — Hawkins, 1917

Wimshurst Electric Machine

"The essential parts of an ordinary Wimshurst machine, are two ordinary drums. On each plate are fixed…

A long and slender drum, which is beaten with one stick; it produces therefore only isolated sounds which have a certain rhythm but never a roll

Tambourin Provencal

A long and slender drum, which is beaten with one stick; it produces therefore only isolated sounds…

A pulley, also called a sheave or a drum, is a mechanism composed of a wheel on an axle or shaft that may have a groove between two flanges around its circumference. A rope, cable, belt, or chain usually runs over the wheel and inside the groove, if present. Pulleys are used to change the direction of an applied force, transmit rotational motion, or realize a mechanical advantage in either a linear or rotational system of motion. Two or more pulleys together are called a block and tackle.

Pulley

A pulley, also called a sheave or a drum, is a mechanism composed of a wheel on an axle or shaft that…

A pulley is a mechanism of a wheel on an axle or shaft that may have a groove between two flanges around its circumference. A rope usually runs over the wheel and inside the groove, if present.

Sash Pulley

A pulley is a mechanism of a wheel on an axle or shaft that may have a groove between two flanges around…

The Savages of Calicut, from the engraving 'The Triumphal Procession' by Hans Burgkmair.

The Savages of Calicut

The Savages of Calicut, from the engraving 'The Triumphal Procession' by Hans Burgkmair.

"Illustrating the principle of Siemens' drum winding. In order to make the winding and connections clear, one coil and the commutator is shown assumbled, although the latter is not put in place until after all the sections have been wound, the ends of the wires temporarily twisted together until all can be soldered to the risers. the cores of these early machines were of wood, overspun circumferentially with iron wire before receiving the longitudinal copper windings." -Hawkins, 1917

Siemens' Drum Winding

"Illustrating the principle of Siemens' drum winding. In order to make the winding and connections clear,…

"Striking machines are now very generally used for the operation. These consist of a drum or cylinder having a parallel series of projecting knives, or plates of gun-metal, set angularly across its surface. Underneath the drum is a brass bed, fixed on a yielding cushion, which can be pressed up or eased by means of a foot lever, according as the leather operated on is thick or thin." —The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1910

Striking Machine

"Striking machines are now very generally used for the operation. These consist of a drum or cylinder…

A percussion instrument consisting of a hollow cylinder or hemisphere with a membrane stretched tightly over one or both ends, played by beating with the hands or sticks.

Drum Support

A percussion instrument consisting of a hollow cylinder or hemisphere with a membrane stretched tightly…

This image depicts the town crier playing a drum on a street in Spain. The town crier is employed by the town council to make public announcements in the street.

Town Crier

This image depicts the town crier playing a drum on a street in Spain. The town crier is employed by…

"Tympanum, a small drum carried in the hand. Of these, some resembled in all respects a modern tambourine with bells. Others presented a flat circular disk on the upper surface and swelled out beneath like a kettle-drum. Both forms are represented in the cuts below. Tympana were covered with the hides of oxen, or of asses; were beaten with a stick, or with the hand, and were much employed in all wild enthusiastic religious rites, especially the orgies of Bacchus and Cybele." &mdash Smith; 1873

Tympanum

"Tympanum, a small drum carried in the hand. Of these, some resembled in all respects a modern tambourine…