Side drum. Culture: American. Dimensions: 18 × 17 in. (45.7 × 43.2 cm). Maker: Henry H. Prentiss (American, Roxbury, Massachusetts 1801-1860 Boston). Date: ca. 1840.The side drum was associated with the military, especially as a signal instrument for infantry troops, from at least the sixteenth century through the end of the nineteenth century. This large drum is eighteen inches in height with a seventeen inch diameter. The shell is made of a thin sheet of wood bent into a cylinder and then glued together and reinforced with brass tacks that are visible from the exterior of the drum. This example utilizes the traditional rope tensioning system, with a single length of rope running between the wood counter hoops and leather tugs used to tighten or loosen the tension on the heads. A set of gut cords are stretched across the bottom head and create a buzzing sound when the top (batter) head is hit. The drum bears a large painted decoration on a white field. The composition has at its cen