Funny you should mention the 18" floor!
I am now (or will soon be) in possession of Phonic Plus Mahogany veneer drums in 10x10, 12x12, 13x13, 14x14, 15x15 rack toms, 16x18, 18x19 floor toms, and 20x17 and 24x18 bass drums.... because I scored these too!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200661239793#ht_500wt_1413I haven't played anything bigger than a 20" BD for years, so the 24" will probably be a museum piece for me, unless I can move it. When the 18x19 showed up I almost fell over with how heavy it is. I complained to Kelly a month ago about how heavy Signias were with those long beautiful lugs, but this thing weighed a ton even after I took the rims off! It's just the shell that weighed that much.
Anyway, I have become a fan of beech shells in the last few years and have become more enamored of older drums as I age myself! I know with the vintage guitars I own, the old wood is incredibly stable and sounds and feels great. The weather in New England, which screws with most guitars, doesn't affect the necks on these guitars which have been aging for over 40 years. I figured the same might be for older drums shells which, as long as they have stayed round, should have dried and become stable and more ringy!
- D.