From The Indianapolis News, Friday, August 5, 1921: What is believed to be one of the largest bass drums in the world has been made by the Leedy Manufacturing Co. of Indianapolis for the Purdue University Military Band. Measuring forty-five inches wide and seven feet three inches in diameter, the drum shell is big enough to permit a tall man wearing a high plug hat to walk through it upright. Two great bull hides were obtained from Kingan & Co. for the drumheads, and the shell was made to have the maximum strength and minimum weight. Because of the drum’s size, baggage cars with particularly large doors will have to be used when the band travels, and a parade carriage has been built for the instrument for use in parades. The drum is finished in gold and black, Purdue’s colors.