Yes, I knew "alliance" was the wrong word...and yet Leedy had an art deco style lug that was a close relative of Ludwig's deco-esque lug design(s), so there was some kind of influence in there somewhere.

Classic Ludwig kits all had the large Classic style lugs -the only one that had small Classic lugs was the 8 X 12 tom tom (and maybe the bongos-?) Also there were some ancillary percussion drums -"timp toms" that used small Classics. Some of the "Educator" series also used small Classics.

Clubdate kits had "bowtie" (large on floor toms and bass drums and small versions for smaller toms and snare drums, e.g., Acrolite) lugs that were center-mounted on the shells and had an insert at each end that corresponded with extra-long lug screws and T-rods (on toms and bass drums)

Imperial lugs were found on the Supraphonic and Super-Sensitive snare drums.

Narrow-shelled drums like the Downbeat and Jazz Combo (Bebop) snare drums had special "piccolo" lugs.

Standard Ludwig kits had special Standard lugs -one size for all, I believe. These lugs were also used on the subsequent "Rocker" series

There were also the "Mach" lugs (ran the length of the shell)

And, of course, the really old Ludwigs had tube lugs

They ought to rename themselves "LUGwig" Burger Kin

is your set from 1964?

I don't think they are Ludwigs. I think they are a re-badged Keller "project" kit. The reason I say that is due to the facts that the mounting hardware is wrong....the bass drum spurs are definitely wrong...the floor tom legs are wrong...I don't see an original tom mount on the ride tom....and no mufflers or holes where the muffler hardware would have been...the bass drum is definitely not original. Ludwig never made a bass drum in those dimensions in the late 60's early 70's. The bass drum hoops are the wrong width...lug screws are wrong....the Mach lugs should extend further along the length of the shell. The bass drum T-rods look as if they are just barely connecting with the corresponding lug inserts.

With those badges, it should have a 3-ply maple/poplar/maple shell....but I'll bet they are straight Keller shells with no reinforcement rings. I need to see interior shots to be sure, but I'd bet that this is someone's project kit.

What year did the change from nickle lugs to chrome lugs?

Both of the "art-deco" lugs as you call them were designed by George Way (yes THAT George Way) and manufactured for Conn by the same company. The "Imperial" lug on the current Ludwig products continued on snare drums and large concert bass drums after WFL purchased the Ludwig name and tooling back in 1955, but was not originally designed by the Ludwig family.......the Classic series was designed by the Ludwig family and I think looks much more elegant than the Imperial lug does. In comparison, I think the Leedy "Beavertail" lugs look more elegant then the Ludwig & Ludwig Imperial lug does.....it's a much simpler design than the busy Imperial lug......but this is just my opinion.

I don't think it was just one particular year. You could order either nickel or chrome hardware from the catalog in 1964. I'm looking at the Super Classic in nickel at $437.50 or chrome at $563.50 on page 25. Other kits seem to be just chrome by then, but I haven't checked all of them carefully.