Knowing Ludwig, there was probably no firm cutoff date. They probably used the WFL badges up at each assembly bench so each bench would have run out and switched over on different dates. They continued to use the WFL branded Speed King foot boards and snare stand baskets well into the 60s so they didn't want to spend, or have, the money to get those molds modified until years after the switch. Badges were more important from a branding standpoint, but they have shown a pattern of not wanting to waste anything.

In my limited collecting experience, 1958 seems to be the year we first see the "trans badge." But as Thin Shell pointed out, there was a transition period for all-things Ludwig, which I would also expect to see with all the drum manufacturers.

Regards, mb

I just found a Nov. 36, 1957 Pioneer, and wondered how many more they could have made after it before going to the trans Badge.

It's missing a throw off, in case anyone has a P-83 laying around!

November 36?

26...my bad!

I had a one-owner "Hollywood" kit, with toms date-stamped 11/25/58. All 5 drums (original Barrett Deems type snare was included, stamped 11/26/58) had 'Trans' badges.

Regards, mb

Trans badges with date stamps run from Nov 58 to Nov 60. Anything outside of that range would be news.

So, January 1958 they were still WFL?

Jan 58 drums should have badges with WFL at the top and Ludwig across the bottom. B1 bought back the rights from CG Conn in 55.