Dear Larry,  A number of years ago I had a bass drum that was
yellowed from smoke and age and stiff as a board as well.  So
I ordered new split cowhide heads.

For some reason I decided to try and clean the original heads, to
make them presentable, before the new heads arrived.  I tried my
partner Joe Hanulec's son's leather sneaker cleaner, and low and
behold: a miracle!  The skin cleaned and revealed a beautiful patina
that had been masked by the dirt and grime of the previous 60 years.
Not only that, the cleaner it added moisture back into the head that
made it supple again.

That drum has been singing for the last 20 years and shows no signs
of quitting.  The only caveat is the drum did not have a decal on it.
So tread lightly around it and you should be safe.  Give it a try --
what have you got to loose.

Walter Kehoe
Syosset, New York