Two German army Kesselpaukers - Kettle drummers

Timpani or kettledrums (also informally called timps)are musical instruments in the percussion family. Timpani had been used in the Middle East since the 12th century. In 1457, a Hungarian legation sent by King Ladislaus V carried larger timpani mounted on horseback to the court of King Charles VII in France. In the 15th century, timpani were used with trumpets as ceremonial instruments in the cavalry. German Reichswehr and Wehrmacht army also used kettledrummers (Kesselpauker) for military parades in 30s. Timpani are still used by the Mounted Bands of the Household Division of the British Army and of the Mounted Band of the Garde Républicaine in the French Army. These two Wehrmacht cavalry kettle drummers were produced in 30s by German companies Elastolin (Left) and Lineol (Right).