Paiste Super Formula 602

SUPER FORMULA 602

Introduction: ~1959
Discontinued: ~1962
Background: The super Formula 602 series:
Robert Paiste had been experimenting with cymbals made of B20 bell bronze starting in 1957 when he first opened the Swiss factory. It should be noted that Robert founded the Swiss factory across lake Sempach from where their future B20 alloy supplier "Metallwerke Dornach/Swissmetal" was located (Paiste had not used B20 alloy up to that point, little did he know they were the only foundry and mill that produced B20 bronze in all of Switzerland and possibly all of western Europe!).
It is believed that Robert spent a couple of years refining the production process, sound characteristics and model names and sizes, this means that most likely the "Super 602" didn't reach widespread distribution until about 1959. This (new to Paiste) B20 alloy first came onto the market under the name "SUPER FORMULA 602", the stamp of this series still looks very similar to the STAMBUL series stamp. The time span for the Super Formula 602 is about 1959-1962. It precedes the introduction of the Formula 602 series but uses the same alloy. It is placed here as an honorary stage in the development of cymbals made from Formula 602 alloy. There is an entirely separate series called Super which is not made from B20 alloy and came much later. This has caused a lot of confusion over the years.
The B20 "Super" seems to come in two versions, one with the Formula 602 label and one without. There is also a second style which looks like the Early Formula 602 stamp and has only the word "Super" written to the upper right. Just to round things off, there is another embossed stamp that looks like the Early Formula 602 stamp, but it leaves off the words "Formula 602", this variation is thought to represent the evolution of the trademark for the Formula 602 series just as it was coming out.
Innovation: First B20 cymbal made by Paiste.
Alloy: B20 Bronze
Quality: Professional
Production: Hand hammered and hand lathed bronze.
Applications: All types of modern music from that era.
Users: Professional musicians and enthusiastic drummers, refined drummers and sound specialists with precise requirements that need a fully developed character in their cymbal sound
Sound: Similar to "modern" 602's: Super Formula 24" ride