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Purdue's giant bass drum, the "World's Largest", adds color and spectacle to the band's pregame and halftime presentations. Standing more than 10 feet high, mounted on its filed carriage, the Monster, as it is affectionately called, measures about eight feet in diameter and nearly four feet between its two heads. Since being placed in service with the Purdue Band in 1921, it has truly become the world's most famous drum. Many other "world's largest" drums have been built, but none surpasses Purdue's original giant. Too large to pass through the door of a railroad baggage car, the Monster must be carried on a specially outfitted pick-up truck. In past years, the drum's heads were made of animal hides and were signed by mayors of cities and governors of states that the Monster passed through in its travels. President Harry S.Truman's signature, with those of Purdue astronauts Virgil "Gus" Grissom and Neil Armstrong, adds color to the story of the big drum. The Purdue Department of Bands now has its own web site with more information.
Purdue Alumni Club of San Diego, P.O. Box 423, La Mesa, CA 91944-0423
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