SOLD - (Quite astonished at how long this set sat on the website. It's a brilliant bagpipe with a sound very much in the MacDougall tradition!)  This is first of twin Thow sets acquired at the same time, and clearly made at the same time.

The Thow pipemaking company made instruments from 1861-1953, starting with the patriarch, John, and followed by his son David, who took the company over when John died in 1879. The chanter is labelled "David Thow, Dundee." David died in 1916, so these pipes could have been made anytime between 1879 and 1916. David and John Thow were superb pipemakers, contempory with the MacDougalls and Centers, and made pipes of comparable quality.

Both sets of pipes appear to have been in storage for quite some time, as evidenced by the very uneven staining on the ivory. The pipes are ebony with full ivory mounts and plain silver slides, unhallmarked.

There were no cracks in the pipes themselves, though the chanter had cracked and has now been restored. The drones required no work at all, not even refinishing. There is some spider-cracking on the ivory, but this is cosmetic, and none of the pieces is threatened. One tenor stock had a hairline crack and has been invisible whipped. As seen in the photos, the cord guides and the sleeved ivory ferrules on the tuning chambers are quite distinctive, the latter being adopted later by William Sinclair.

The pipes are not as full as a MacDougall set, but not as mellow as most David Glen pipes. The tone is rich, refined and steady without being overpowering. The drones tune slightly lower on the pins that some other sets, so this set would be particularly suited to someone playing a flatter pitch. The chanter plays, but would be a challenge to reed consistently.

Thow pipes are rare, and are should be viewed as one of the prime pipes made in their day. Of the twin sets listed here, while both play equally as well, this set has more consistent ivory colouring and would be the most desirable.

SOLD - I acquired this set thinking it was quite a lovely Hardie set. It is hallmarked 1962-63 and all pieces are original except for the blowstick, which appears to be an older Lawrie.

When I struck the pipes up to try them, I was absolutely blown away by the tone: they were big, full, rich and just filled the room. "Hendersons!" I thought.

But the visuals didn't say Henderson. I shared pictures with knowledgeable colleagues and all agreed: they look like several prominant makes of the time, but aren't obviously one or the other. The hallmarks give the "PN" engraver:  a common bagpipe engraver in Birmingham, but not the standard Hardie or Henderson silversmith.

I have to leave it at that and just reiterate that the tone of these pipes is remarkable, and the set is beautiful. The original sole is currently on a poly chanter of unknown make. If anyone thinks they can identify this set I'd love to hear from you.

If you're looking for a set of silver and ivories that are stunning both tonally and visually, don't let the lack of a maker's name put you off this set. You could call them "Henderson" and the minute you struck up, everyone would believe you!
 

SOLD - This complete set of Grainger & Campbell pipes dates from the early 1960s, and comes with the original pipe chanter and practice chanter.

The set is in great shape, but was mounted in pumpkin-orange imitation ivory, which has been replaced with cocobola mounts modelled after the Grainger originals.

The tuning pin of the middle joint of the bass drone was broken and has been replaced. Hairline cracks in the bass top and one tenor top have been sealed.

The set has a full sound, quite rich, with a robust bass. They were steady with the first set of reeds used. The chanter and the practice chanter are both in good condition and will go well with modern reeds.

According to Jeannie Campbell's book "Highland Bagpipe Makers" (an invaluable resource), Grainger & Campbell made pipes in Glasgow from 1946-1989 after taking over the Duncan MacRae shop. During the 1960s and early 1970s, premier pipers Donald MacLeod and John MacFadyen were very involved in the firm. I remember as a young piper during these days not being very impressed with "modern" pipemakers' pipes -- except for Graingers, which I'd heard played by several good piobaireachd players on the Ontario solo circuit.
 

SOLD - This silver and ivory R. G. Lawrie set is hallmarked 1900 and is in remarkable shape for its age. One tenor drone bottom was replaced many years ago by Charley Kron, ivory and all. It is a nearly perfect replacment, and the ivory has aged nicely so that it is very close to an ideal blend with the older ivory. The mouthpiece bulb is not original. These rarely survive. Pictured is an imitation ivory replacement that is just about perfect.

The other tenor drone top had a hairline crack that has been whipped and is completely invisible. Some of the ivory projecting mount plates show spider lines typical of old ivory.

The wood has a few nicks and chips commensurate with 113 years of age. The pipes were stripped and refinished.

The set plays beautifully -- steady, big, rich, and with a seamless bass/tenor blend typical of the old Lawrie and Henderson sets. Despite the replacement piece -- executed by one of the great modern pipemakers -- this set remains classic Lawrie from the firm's golden age.



 

SOLD -  This unassuming looking instrument was one of the more exciting suprises of my career. I purchased them as a David Glen set, which I duly thought they were. I reeded them, plugged them into my own stocks and played them, as I do all sets here. I expected the rich but "mellow" (quieter) sound David Glen's pipes are renown for. Instead, I was greeted with an incredibly robust set of drones. I was shocked and taken with them immediately, both by their rich volume and blend with the chanter, as well as their incredible steadiness. 

Further research finally determined them -- most likely -- to have been made by the Edinburgh firm of J & R Glen, likely around 1880.

John and Robert Glen were the sons of Thomas Glen. Thomas was the brother of Alexander, who was David's father. It was with Thomas and Alexander that the Glen family branched into two very different firms, each with their distinct strengths, but with one common element:  exceptional craftsmanship. Thomas Glen's pipes were very much on a par with, Duncan MacDougall's. They are rare and high prized by knowledgeable vintage aficionados. John and Robert also made exceptional pipes, quite different from their cousin David. John and Robert took over Thomas's firm in 1867, while David took over Alexander's in 1873.

After John and Robert died (in 1904 and 1911 respectively) the company continued, but the pipes of that time and later never exhibited the robust and remarkble tonal quality of the earlier J & R sets.

When one tenor stock cracked shortly after I acquired these pipes, I replaced all three drone stocks with blackwood Glen stocks that date from roughly the same period.

This was my #1 bagpipe until I acquired the Donald MacPhee silver and ivory set also shown on this page.  So taken was I with its quality that McGillivray Piping now produces a reproduction of this instrument in collaboration with Thomas Doucet of Thomas Pipe Works.

SOLD - I've only seen one other MacDougall bagpipe configured quite like this one. It was thought that the metal mounts might be a retrofit, but a careful examination indicates they are original. It is in keeping with Duncan MacDougall's trend before the 1890s of virtually custom-building every bagpipe.

The set is ebony and mounted in ivory and engraved silver. The tuning chambers are fitted with brass slides, a practice particularly associated with the MacDougall family, though it was done by others as well.

The stamp "Dn McDougall Breadalbane" appears in three places: on the top and bottom of the chanter stick and on the top of the bass drone bottom joint, just below the ivory projecting mount. Breadalbane was the MacDougall home before the family moved to Aberfeldy, and dates the pipes between 1873 and 1887.

As is often the case with ebony pipes that contain brass inserts, each drone piece was cracked adjacent to the brass insert. As is also the case, none of the cracks leaked, and the pipes were being played in this condition by the owner on the isle of Skye until fairly recently with no issues. However, all cracks have been sealed and invisible whipped by Dunbar Bagpipes. The repairs are marvellous, as seen in the bottom right photo where the two left drone pieces have been repaired, while the right piece has not. You would be hard-pressed to detect the whipped pieces in the photos below without first knowing they were there. The blowpipe stock is a poly-lined blackwood replica. The engraving on the metal sleeve on the blowpipe does not match the rest of the pipes.

The tone is full (not quite Henderson full) and rich, with a fabulous, rich bass and a steadiness typical of the great old MacDougalls. Tuning positions are excellent.

This set has now been reprodcued as "The Breadalbane" offered by McGillivray Piping as part of the attractive, toneful and affordable "Victorian Line" of nineteenth-century replicas. The Breadalbane reproductions ae made by Dunbar Bagpipe Maker to the exact specifications of this set. The previous owner of this set was well known piper Allan Beaton of London/Skye, who played them for 30 years until 2012.
 

SOLD - This set of Grainger and Campbell silver and ivories are hallmarked as having been made in 1977 and are in pristine condition.

This firm took over the Duncan  MacRae shop in Glasgow in 1946, and made pipes until 1989. Both Donald MacLeod and John MacFadyen were involved with the firm in the 1960s and 1970s and their influence on the instruments resulted in a well respected bagpipe being made for many years.

The sound is quite full, and might best be described as being similar to modern Naill pipes, though the bass in this set is particularly full.

This set had extra attention paid to it when the last owner sent them to John Kidd, an American refurbisher and student of the tonal properties of columns. John had a well-earned reputation for improving the tone of pipes by flaring stock bottoms, tuing pins and adjusting bores so that they matched one another perfectly within the bagpipe. The previous owner reports: "Once I put some playing time on them, I had John Kidd match the tenor drones, and had him do his famous flaring of the stocks and tapering of the joints. The tone really locked in after these modifications."

The finish on the pipes was superb when I received them and has not been touched. There is some dark staining on a portion of two of the lower projecting mounts. The original silver sole had been installed onto a Kron Medallist blackwood solo chanter. The previous owner found the blowpipe too long and had John Kidd provide a cast silver replacement. The original silver and ivory mouthpiece and Grainger chanter are provided with the pipes. This is really a beautiful silver and ivory set, and the tonal alterations have upgraded its sound to "exceptional."

Invoices documenting Mr. Kidd's work are provided. Sad to report that John Kidd passed away in October this year.
 

SOLD - Dave Atherton is regarded by many to be the best pipemaker of modern times. His attention to detail, quality materials and perfectist workmanship were obsessive. He recently quit making pipes to pursue other ventures, leaving a legacy of around 170 sets, mostly reproductions of a Duncan MacDougall cocuswood bagpipe previously owned by the late Roddy MacDonald of Wilmington, Delaware, and now owned by his son Calum.

This set was made in 2009 and has hardly been played. It is in absolutely pristine, virtually as-new condition. The mounts are nickel and imitation ivory. The blowstick and blowstick stock are poly.

The tone is bold and steady with Canning tenors and a Kinnaird bass and the pipes are as steady as any set you will find.

Consider this a collector's item that plays beautifully, by a modern maker who will be remembered long after many others are forgotten.

 

SOLD - Here is a rare full silver set of pipes made by the Edinburgh firm of William Sinclair and Son. The pipes are hallmarked 1972.

William Sinclair started business in 1931 and still operates today. They have gained a well-earned reputation as the best and most consistent modern pipemaker. This set was likely made by William Sinclair junior. The tone is full and I was very impressed by how steady they were from the second I pulled the middle tenor into tune. This is a great high-end Sinclair set that comes with the original Sinclair chanter and silver sole.

The pipes did not need refinishing. The tenor stocks have had each had a very minor hairline crack sealed as a proactive setup. It was only when I was hemping the pipes that I realized the blowstick is a matching poly replacement, thought the projecting mount is original. The bass stock appears to be a replacement, but still has the original ferrule. The only deficiency in the set otherwise is that there is no full silver mouthpiece and bulb, though it's possible the set was not made with one.

A nice attribute of this set is that the silver projecting mounts are formed, not solid, so the set is not much heavier than a standard silver and ivory set.

The are lots of of Sinclair bagpipe devotees out there, and if you're one of them you'll hardly do better than this set.

SOLD - A gem of a man, and one of the great piping icons of the last 75 years, Bob Hardie made pipes beginning in 1950, and his company was one of the most prolific in the 20th century. He was an excellent craftsman, and the quality and seasoning of the wood the company used is exemplified by how many sets today still have perfectly true tuning chambers that don't bind on the hemp.

This bagpipe had one owner who purchased it new in 1952. One tenor top had a hairline crack that has been stopped in its tracks, and the bagpipe has been refinished. The blowpipe appears to be a Lawrie with an ivory mount, and while it's not a perfect match, neither is it distracting.

Hardie pipes are known for their subdued tone, a "mellow" sound many pipers favour. Elsewhere on this page, you will see Hardie pipes that have been rebored to Henderson specs, but the tone of this set was surprisingly rich and buzzy -- much like some old Glen sets -- so these bores have been left alone. Hardie pipes are well known for being steady and easy to reed.

The ivory is in absolutely immaculate condition, the tuning chambers are perfect, and the pipe is attractive and tuneful.
 

SOLD - Though not the typical high-end vintage fare usually offered on this page, this set came to me out of the blue in good condition and played nicely, so I thought I would offer it as a very affordable 'semi-vintage' set. The set was likely made in the 1960s, and while some might call that vintage, to me, a set of pipes is not vintage unless it's older than me!

This Lawrie set is typical of the firm's offerings in the 1960s and 1970s, with the most recognizable feature being the drone ferrules with a thick bead an no scribe lines. The nickel ferrules on the stocks only are unusual, but the stocks appear to be original. They add a nice bit of variety to the appearance of the pipes. The drone bushes are ivory, which is quite common among imitation ivory pipes prior to the 1970s. I have no idea why they put ivory bushes on imitation ivory pipes, but you see it all the time.

This set is all original except for the blowpipe and mount, which were missing. No other work was required. The finish is original.

Though not the bold and magical sound of the true vintage Lawries made prior to the mid-1950s, the tone from these drones is nonetheless full and steady:  a solid, work-a-day pipe, easily reeded and nicely made with well seasoned wood.

SOLD - This is one of the old sets of Hendersons we've had on the vintage page.

The pipes are cocuswood, mounted in ivory and elegantly engraved silver. The silver is not hallmarked, and the silver ferrules have seams, both evidence of the pipes having been made around or before the turn of the century.

The engraving is light and tasteful, and the silver shines up beautifully. The ivory is in spectacular shape.

The tone is vintage Henderson -- full, rich, and, unlike the ferrules, seamless.

There were hairine cracks in one tenor top, one tenor stock, the blowstick stock, and at the very bottom of the bass stock. These have been invisible whipped. Cocuswood is more difficult to match than blackwood or ebony, so the recombed sections show the repairs slightly, though I like to think it has been tastefully done.

The original chanter stock was too badly split to salvage, so the mount was put on a blackwood replica stock. The seam on one tenor ferrule has separated slightly, but this is visible only up close.

This is a pretty special set. Perhaps that should go without saying.

SOLD - Henry Starck was a descendant of a long line of 19th-century German woodwind makers. He emigrated to London in the 1880s where the Queen's Piper, William Ross, convinced him to begin making pipes for him. Making bagpipes proved lucrative, and several generations of Starcks continued the business into the 1960s, still using Ross's name on their pipes.

Henry and his son, also Henry, were marvellous makers, and pipemakers today still hold Starck pipes up as icons of craftsmanship. Listeners are often surprised to discover that a full and rich set of Henderson-like pipes they are hearing is in fact a Starck.

This set is blackwood, mounted in full ivory. According to a previous owner who knows the history, they were made in 1923. The pipes are in pristine condition, and the ivory is immaculate. They were likely refinished at some point, but there is no evidence of a crack or repair anywhere. The two tenors don't appear perfectly identical. They certainly look like the same maker from the same time period. The reedseats were threaded at some point in the recent past.

Each tuning pin is stamped "H. Starck, Late W. Ross, London." The stamps are visible in some of the photos.

The tone of these pipes is big and buzzy -- Starck hallmarks. They are steady. They tune in the right places. They are superb.

SOLD - The Thow pipemaking company made instruments from 1861-1953, starting with the patriarch, John, and followed by his son David, who took the company over when John died in 1879. The chanter is labelled "David Thow, Dundee." David died in 1916, so these pipes could have been made anytime between 1879 and 1916. David and John Thow were superb pipemakers, contempory with the MacDougalls and Centers, and made pipes of comparable quality.

These pipes have been in storage for who knows how long, as evidenced by the very uneven staining on the ivory. The pipes are ebony with full ivory mounts and plain silver slides, unhallmarked.

There were no cracks in the pipes themselves, though the chanter had been broken and primitively whipped. This has been completely restored, but the drones required no work at all, not even refinishing. There is some spider-cracking on the ivory, but this is cosmetic, and none of the pieces is threatened. As seen in the photos, the cord guides and the sleeved ivory ferrules on the tuning chambers are quite distinctive, the latter being adopted by William Sinclair.

The pipes are not as full as a MacDougall set, but not as mellow as most David Glen pipes. The tone is rich, refined and steady without being overpowering. The drones tune slightly lower on the pins that some other sets, so this set would be particularly suited to someone playing a flatter pitch. The chanter plays, but would be a challenge to reed consistently.

Thow pipes are rare, and are should be viewed as one of the prime pipes made in their day.

SOLD - This Hardie set was made in 1967 and came to me in excellent shape, so I have left the original finish intact. Though there was no original chanter sole, all other pieces, including the mouthpiece bulb and sleeve, are original

This set was fairly robust as Hardie pipes go. While I find Hardie pipes a bit "mellow" for my taste, I quite liked this set. It was certainly not a booming old Lawrie, but it was rich and locked nicely into tune.

There are a couple of very minor dings in the silver that can just be seen in the photos of the caps, and a couple of scuffs in the finish, so I've tried to make this set as affordable as possible for someone who might like a nice silver and ivory set without the usual price tag. I often find Hardie sets like this suit adult pipers looking for an attractive instrument that is easy to reed, easy to tune, and steady.

The silver pattern on this set is quite unusual for Hardie pipes: hand engraved rather than machine.

 

SOLD - This old Henderson set is in lovely shape, both visually and tonally. The set is ebony, with ivory mounts, and the drones are rock steady, robust and seamless in the Henderson tradition.

All pieces are original, and the only visual flaws are some very tiny chips in the ivory that are quite normal in a set of this age.

There was a tiny hairline crack in one tenor top, and another in one tenor stock -- pretty typical of old ebony. I don't like to take any chances with ebony, so these have been invisible whipped and you'd be hard-pressed to tell from the photos where the work was done.

The age of the set has been estimated to be around 1930 by the shapes of the projecting mounts, the use of ebony, and the appearance of a "PH" stamp below the cord guide rather than a "P. Henderson" stamp inside the cord guides. The pipes have aged well, and the refinishing job has come out beautifully.

These are classic ivory Hendersons that will perform well at any level.
 

SOLD - This set is a bit mysterious and with a rich, deep tone. They are ebony, and mounted in full ivory. The profiles and the ivory patina, slim stocks and slender beads suggest a date in the 1890s. The original slides were plain silver but badly dented and marked, so they have been replaced by new engraved slides with a Runic pattern.

A visible crack in the bass top has been invisible whipped and is undetectable. A hairline crack in on tenor top was similarly whipped, as was the chanter stock. The blowpipe stock is new and poly lined. The ferrule on the chanter stock was missing, so a similar ivory ferrule was found, and the bead turned down slightly to match. There is a crack in the blowpipe ferrule that has been crudely filled, but left in order not to damage the mount.

The set has some Henderson and Lawrie visual characteristics, but the tone is not as full as these makes. These are not quiet pipes but the tone and steadiness is exceptional, and typical of old ebony pipes in the Center or MacDougall tradition.

The pipes have been refinished. There is lots of character and tonal excellence in this set. They have everything -- except a name.
 

SOLD - This set of circa 1920s Lawries in ebony has full ivory mounts and engraved Sterling silver tuning slides. Though the slides display the typical "RGL" maker's mark, there are no date marks. However, the previous owner had the pipes pegged at the 1920s, and the use of ebony and the patina of the ivory along with a few spider lines on the projecting mounts would easily support this.

The bass top section had a very visible crack that has been sealed and whipped, and while it can still just barely be seen up very close, it will pose no problems. The chanter stock and one tenor stock exhibited hairline cracks and have also been whipped. However, the wood is of exceptional quality and in exceptional condition and all pieces ran true on the lathe. The cracking is very typical of an ebony set of this age -- almost impossible to avoid, but worth the added tonal qualities of ebony.

The blowstick stock is a poly-lined reproduction with the orignal mount. The remaining stocks may or may not be original -- they are ebony and a perfect match to the set -- but the ivory mounts are not original, with three in one style and two slightly different. However, the patina matches the mounts on the drones perfectly, and the overall effect is pretty seamless. The entire set has been refinished.

The tone matches the elegant look of the pipes -- rich and full, though not booming. They are steady, they tune in the right places, and they blend well with the chanter. It's a well used but beautiful set with classic Lawrie tonal character.
 

SOLD - This Duncan MacDougall bagpipe is in remarkable condition, given its age. The middle bass drone joint is stamped "D. McDougall Edinr" just below the projecting mount. The "Edinr" is actually upside down below the maker's name, a typical trait of this period. The stamp is clearly visible in the enlarged photo of the upper projecting mounts, bottom left. While it is difficult to know exactly where Duncan MacDougall lived at all times during the 1860s and early 1870s, a bagpipe stamped 'Edinburgh' can generally be thought of as having been made in the mid to late 1860s. This set was in the possession of the previous owner since 1978. Before that, they were part of the estate of Brodie Castle in Forres, Scotland.

The bagpipe is ebony and fully mounted in lovely ivory. All pieces are original except for the blowstick and blowstick stock. The stock has its original ferrule, and the blowstick has an almost perfect replica mount in ivory. You would not guess these pieces are not original without knowing.

As is typical of pipes with brass linings in the drone tuning chambers, hairline cracks have appeared adjacent to them on the tenor drone tops. There is no leakage, and these have been invisible whipped to prevent future problems.

The pipes were refinished by the previous owner.

The tone is classic Duncan. Though it is not a booming sound, the richness, the blend, and the timbre of the bass drone result in a sound that fills the room.
 

SOLD - This hallmarked silver and ivory Robertson set was made in 1956 and shows the distinctive ivory projecting mounts this maker was so famous for.

The set has been refinished, but had no cracks or flaws in the wood. A number of the ivory mounts show some spider cracks, one large one in particular, but these are not unusual and they threaten the mounts in no way.

The original ivory mouthpiece bulb is not present, so the original engraved silver sleeve has been fitted to a new mouthpiece.

The stocks show bore flaring that is typical of many of the higher-end Robertson sets, said to enhance tone and steadiness.

I've never played a set of silver and ivory Robertsons that weren't absolutely superb, and this set is just the same:  a robust, seamless, steady tone. It's a great old set and quite lovely.

While there was no original chanter or sole with this set, I do have a matching sole made in the same pattern by the same Birmingham engraver. The only difference is that it is hallmarked for RG Hardie, 1968. The pipes can be purchased with or without the sole.
 

SOLD - This set of circa 1960 Hardie full-ivories has been rebored with pre-1940s Henderson bores.

Bob Hardie's pipes were well crafted and he used superb wood. They are favoured by pipers wanting a quieter pipe, and as a result aren't as popular as pipes with a fuller sound. I asked the Henderson experts at Dunbar Bagpipes (Jack Dunbar worked at the Henderson shop in the 1940s) to rebore these Hardies according to the old Henderson specs. Only the internal specs of the bells were untouched. The bass bottom joint is a slightly smaller diameter than Henderson so it tunes a bit higher on the pin. The result has been as I'd hoped, with a much fuller drone sound, but still steady and easy to reed.

The set is mounted in full ivory that is in excellent shape but for a bit of staining and chipping on the caps. The sticks were were excellent condition and have been refinished. The blowpipe was missing, so a replica was made in poly-lined blackwood with an old matching ivory mount.

I'm pleased with how this rebore experiment has turned out, and will replicate it with other Hardie sets. It matches excellent aged wood with the resonating Henderson internal specifications.

SOLD - This is an interesting James Robertson set, in that it is a mix of ebony and blackwood, suggesting a date of manufacture of around 1940 or a bit earlier. The ivory projecting mounts are Robertson's distinctive design; the ferrules are nickel. The chanter is likely original to the set.

The bass and blowpipe stock match the set, while the chanter and tenor stocks may be replacements, though not readily apparent to the untrained eye.

All other pieces are original. There are no cracks or repairs, and just a couple of tiny age chips in the ivory. The pipes have been refinished.

The sound is typical of Robertson consistency: big, bold and steady.

SOLD - What I was struck by more than anything with these pipes was the steadiness. The first set of reeds I tried in them locked in right away, and even though the chanter reed sharpened up and I eased off to compensate, the drones stayed locked. The tone was full and smooth: typical Lawrie/Henderson of this vintage.

The pipes are lovely dark ebony that has been beautifully refinished. The ivory is lovely, though slightly stained and spider-lined here and there. It is in good condition but for one chip on the blowpipe projecting mount. The chanter stock had slight a slight crack that became apparent after the finish was removed, and has been invisible whipped. The ivory ferrule from the chanter stock was missing. Another old ivory Lawrie ferrule has been installed to replace it.

There is not much more to say about this set. It is an elegant full ivory set in ebony, beautifully restored by Dunbar Bagpipe Makers. The sound and steadiness would win prizes at the highest levels, or suit the hobby piper who just wants trouble-free tone!
 

SOLD - John Center was initially a professional photographer with a keen eye who began making pipes in Edinburgh in 1869. His son James joined him in the business later. The family moved to Melbourne, Australia in 1908 where they continued to make pipes. John died in 1913, and James died a young man in 1919 of the Spanish flu epidemic. A leading player, Jimmy Center was commemorated in Willie Ross's superb jig, "Center's Bonnet."

John Center was renown for his workmanship and refined sound. This set is typical, with meticulous turning, lovely ivory mounts, and a tone which is steady and seamless, but not booming -- not as quiet as David Glen's pipes, and not quite as big as Duncan MacDougall's best sets, but similar in timbre and steadiness.

All drone pieces in this set are in excellent condition. The bass stock had fine cracks that have been sealed and invisible whipped. The blowstick stock is a reproduction in blackwood with a poly lining and the original mount. The blowpipe appears to be an old Henderson, and the chanter stock is an old replacement with a slightly different combing pattern.

This is a pleasing old piece of history, both aesthetically and tonally.

SOLD - With all due respect to the rest of today's craftsmen, Dave Atherton was the finest modern bagpipe maker I've ever seen. His acoustical knowledge and his obsessive attention to detail resulted in a remarkable instrument that holds its own against some of the great vintage bagpipes. His brief career, which ended this past summer for personal reasons, has left around 170 instruments worldwide that have immediately become collectors' items.

Though he made many instruments for C. E. Kron during the early 2000s, the Duncan MacDougall reproduction he created when he was in business for himself in Chicago is his masterpiece. I was fortunate enough to work closely with Dave during the development of this model and can attest to the care and knowledge that went into every set. This set, made this year in African blackwood with full holly mounts and engraved silver slides, is a superb example of his work.

The blowpipe stock is poly (as was Dave's style) and the blowpipe is a brass-lined, blackwood stick.
 
The tone of this set is full and all-encompassing. It is more aggressive than Henderson pipes, and belies the myth that Duncan MacDougall pipes were subdued, a myth perhaps resulting from so many David Glen sets being mis-identified as MacDougalls, likely for fraudulent reasons.

As an aside, when I played in the Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band at the World Pipe Band Championship in 2008, I played an early Atherton MD set. The band's drone tuners -- both prominent pipers -- came to me at one point asking what drones I was playing. I told them and they remarked that they were the steadiest in the band and the most vibrant to the touch. "I can feel the wood shaking in my hands as I'm tuning," said one. I thought that was a remarkable thing to hear, given the calibre of player and bagpipes in that remarkable band.
 

SOLD - William Gunn lived from 1789 to 1867 and, according to Jeannie Campbell, he made pipes in Edinburgh from 1834 to 1866. He was a competing piper and published The Caledonian Repository of Bagpipe Music in Edinburgh in 1848, a significant book republished by the National Piping Centre quite recenlty. He also composed the piobaireachd "The Gunn's Salute," which was published by William Ross and has been set for the piobiareachd competitions at Oban and Inverness in recent years.

This gorgeous cocuswood and ivory set was purchased as a Donald MacDonald set, but after consulting several expert colleagues, the possibility of Gunn as the maker was raised. The barely visible remnants of a stamp on one tuning pin clearly show a "W" at the start of the first line -- and not much else -- confirming the possibility that William Gunn may be the maker.

The pipes have been meticulously refurbished at some point in recent decades. The wood may have been slightly sanded to remove imperfections, and the ivory lightly buffed. All pieces are original, except for the bass ring, which has just been replaced with an ivory reproduction. One projecting mount has at some point been chipped, but the original piece has been glued back in place. This and a small gap in one other ring are the only imperfections on the set.

UPDATE: In late June and early July I spent three weeks playing these pipes with a variety of reeds and found them tonally exceptional: robust, rich and buzzy, and extremely steady, very much in the Duncan MacDougall tradition. It is tonally almost identical to my #2 bagpipe, a cocuswood J&R Glen set circa 1870s (soon to be pictured on this page), so I have decided to pass this one on. My #1 bagpipe remains the silver and ivory Donald MacPhee set, also shown on this page.

SOLD - This is a tremendous Henderson set, but unusual in that plain silver Hendersons of this era are uncommon.

The pipes are in spectacular shape for their age. One tenor tuning pin had a hairline crack that has been sealed. The original blowpipe bulb had been butchered to create a hack extendable contraption, but the blowpipe stick was able to be perfectly restored. The ivory is nicely aged and in immaculate condition.

The tuning chambers were gently reamed to even up the tuning action and the pipes were stripped and refinished.

The tone is that great old robust, smooth-as-silk Henderson sound with their legendary steadiness and dominant bass. Classic.

This combination of age, tone, condition and character is hard to come by.

SOLD - This set of circa 1979 silver and ivory Hardies has been rebored to pre-1940s Henderson bores.

Bob Hardie's pipes were well crafted and he used superb wood. They are known for being steady but quiet, which some pipers prefer. However, in keeping with the current trend toward fuller sounding drones, I asked the Henderson experts at Dunbar Bagpipes (Jack Dunbar worked at the Henderson shop in the 1940s) to rebore these Hardies according to the old Henderson specs. Only the internal specs of the bells were untouched. The bass bottom joint is a slightly smaller diameter than Henderson so it will tune a bit higher on the pin. The result has been a much fuller drone sound, still steady and easy to reed.

This bagpipe is in almost perfect condition, though the blowpipe is new blackwood (poly-lined), with a Lawrie mount turned down slightly to match the Hardie.

Reboring to Henderson specs gave this lovely set a robust and steady Henderson sound -- it's a different bagpipe. Here's your chance to own a large bore silver and ivory bagpipe at a great price.

SOLD - Hot on the heels of the historic silver and ivory Donald MacPhee set shown below is this marvellous set by William Ross, the Queen's Piper. This is another remarkable set that will likely remain part of the permanent collection.

William Ross was a monumental piping figure during the latter half of the 19th-century. He was born in 1823, and died in 1891, having held the position of Queen's Piper to Queen Victoria since Angus Mackay's death in 1854. His 1869 publication of piobaireachd and light music, called "Pipe Music" is one of the most significant collections of the century.

The exact history of his pipemaking business is not clear. He was a very clever businessman and very well-to-do as a result. Jeannie Campbell tells us he made the prize pipe at Inverness from 1873 to 1886. However, it is thought that he was not a turner himself and hired turners to make his pipes for him. From about 1880 onwards, he used Henry Starck, whose family had immigrated to London from Germany many years earlier. This would mark the beginning of the Starck pipemaking business, and the pipes made by the company for the next 30 years would be their best.

After Ross's death, Starck would stamp his pipes "H. Starck/late W. Ross." It is thought that sets stamped only "W. Ross" were the earliest, turned while Ross was actively involved in the business.

Starck was meticulous about stamping his instruments, often in several places, and this set is stamped "W. Ross" on each stock. The distinctive projecting mounts are typical of Starck's wide shapes, though shallower and using a softer, rounded bead rather than the straight cut bead he would use later on. The tuning chambers have brass slides installed.

All pieces appear to be original, though the blowstick is missing. The chanter is cocuswood, and while it may not be original to the set, it too is stamped "W. Ross."

The set had several cracks, only two of which required whipping. The chanter was a mess, but is now immaculate. Kudos to Dunbar Bagpipe Maker for a remarkable restoration of this instrument, which now should have another 100 years of life left in it.

The tone of this set is typical of the earliest Starcks: big, robust and buzzy. They are as steady as a rock and a joy to play and behold.

SOLD - This set was sold to me by a Scottish pipemaker as an 1880s cocuswood set, "possibly MacDougall." One would expect a pipemaker to know wood, but in fact they are ebony, likely circa 1890s, and, if anything, possibly early Lawries. The Lawrie moniker is an educated guess, by a fellow vintage afficionado who has a great eye for shapes and lines. In fact, the tone is quite similar to a circa-1900 ebony/celluloid Lawrie set that was once owned by Captain John MacLellan and sold on this site a few months ago. The sound is rich and very steady, but not the big, full Lawrie/Henderson sound. If you like a mid-range volume set of drones with old Lawrie quality, this set is a good candidate.

Being ebony, there were some hairline cracks, and, being ebony, I take no chances with these. Ebony does not glue as well as blackwood, so both tenor tops and the blowpipe have been invisible whipped. The ebony stocks have been replaced by blackwood, with the orignal ivory mounts. The ivory mount on the chanter stock was reclaimed from another stock. The blowpipe stock was missing; the new stock is poly lined and has an imitation ivory mount.

This is not an unusual amount of restoration for a pre-1900 ebony set of pipes, and the end result is a distinctive old pipe with a lovely, steady tone. A piobaireachd player would like this set.

SOLD - Here is another set of old ebony pipes that comes to the site with some repaired flaws but a brilliant, steady tone. Made by David Thow of Dundee, the pipes are ebony with silver and ivory mounts. The silver is not hallmarked, but the last owner said he purchased the pipes as having been made in 1909, and the aged look of the ivory and the use of ebony would support that.

John Thow and his son David were remarkable pipemakers in the 50 years on either side of 1900. Their pipes are often mistaken for Gavin MacDougall for various reasons, including the superb tone and the wide cord guides; however, the stylings around the cord guides and on the ivory work on the end caps are distinct Thow traits. Robert Gillanders worked for both MacDougall and Thow (as well as for Center) in the years after 1900, so there are common elements in some of these makers' pipes. For some reason -- perhaps the consistent lack of makers' stamps -- Thow gets short shrift and his pipes are given other well known names, like MacDougall. In short, the three ebony Thow sets on this site at present are gems being sadly ignored for want of a bigger name.

One tenor top on this set was a hack replacement, but both original mounts were in the box, so a replica tenor top has been made in ebony, matching the second original top and using the original mounts. One tenor bottom and the bass stock had hairline cracks, so these were invisible whipped since they are ebony (ebony doesn't glue as reliably as blackwood). The chanter stock is a replacement, and the blowpipe stock was also whipped. The ivory is lovely. The silver is not of the highest grade and the ferrules are open rather than closed, but the overall effect is quite nice.

The drones play beautifully -- steady, robust, and with a wide tuning range that keeps pipes steady.

SOLD - This set of circa 1960 Hardie full-ivories has been rebored with pre-1940s Henderson bores.

Bob Hardie's pipes were well crafted and he used superb wood. They are favoured by pipers wanting a quieter pipe, and as a result aren't as popular as pipes with a fuller sound. I asked the Henderson experts at Dunbar Bagpipes (Jack Dunbar worked at the Henderson shop in the 1940s) to rebore these Hardies according to the old Henderson specs. Only the internal specs of the bells were untouched. The bass bottom joint is a slightly smaller diameter than Henderson so it tunes a bit higher on the pin. The result has been as I'd hoped, with a much fuller drone sound, but still steady and easy to reed.

This bagpipe was in almost perfect condition, and appears to have been played for only a short time. There are some almost imperceptible chips on a couple of the projecting mounts. The finish is original. The blowpipe was missing, so a polypenco-lined blackwood blowpipe was made to match and an old ivory projecting mount turned down a bit to match.

Since reboring, this pristine pipe is robust and much more Henderson-like than the orginal, mellow tone.

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SOLD - This is a tonally spectacular set of full ivory Henderson pipes with engraved silver slides.

The slides are not hallmarked; however, the mouthpiece tube is hallmarked 1925. The mouthpiece tube is well worn, and it's hard to tell if it matches the slides. It's possible that the slides were added later, but the pipes themselves are certainly of the same vintage as the mouthpiece tube: easily 1920s or earlier.

Because the pipes didn't need to be refinished, the identity of the wood couldn't be determined for sure. They aren't ebony. They appear to be blackwood, but in good light they have a distinct reddish cocuswood tinge.

The pipes are in superb condition, showing no cracks or repairs and only some very normal, minor chipping to the mounts.

The tone is big and bold, rich and locked-in steady: really classic Henderson.
 

SOLD - Many vintage aficionados consider John Center one of the greatest pipemakers, ranking in both tone and craftsmanship along with Duncan MacDougall, David Glen and Henry Starck. He made pipes in Edinburgh from 1869 to 1908, moving with his son James to Melbourne in the last few years of his life.

He favoured cocuswood as the material of choice for his sticks. His pipes are superbly crafted, and display a refined, buzzy tone about half way been the more robust MacDougall and the subdued Glen. The bass is full and dominant, and the pipes are very steady.

This set is pristine but for the blowstick, which was missing and has been replaced with an ebony replica. While the set has been refinished, there are no cracks or repairs. The mounts are ivory, and the pipes come with the original chanter displaying maker's the name as "J Center Edinburgh."

The set is a gorgeous artifact and a lovely instrument.

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As shown, sticks only, with original chanter
CAD $3,250, plus shipping

Set up to play - Ross Bag, MCC2 solo blackwood chanter, Canning drone reeds, bag cover, cords.
CAD $3,900 plus shipping

SOLD - William Sinclair began making pipes in the 1930s, and the firm is still going strong in Edinburgh under the direction of old Willie's grandson. The company is renown for the quality of its pipes and chanters, and has long owned a position as one of the great modern pipemakers.

This set was made in 1976, and was remounted in boxwood several years ago by pipemaker Tim Gellaitry, who in fact made pipes for Sinclair for many years. You could hardly make a better choice for reproducing Sinclair mounts. Tim also refinished the pipes at that time.

The pipes are in immaculate condition, with no cracks or repairs. All pieces are original

Sinclair tone is robust and steady. This set was easy to reed and behaved as expected. i've not encountered another boxwood-mounted Sinclar set. There may be others, but they are rare.

This is a great "all-natural" pipe with a strong predigree.

SOLD - Though not stamped, this set shows the very distinctive half-circle beading typical of Starck. It doesn't show the large, rounded, billiard-ball projecting mounts. This and the use of cocuswood, suggest a manufacturing date ten years on either side of 1930.

All drone pieces are original. The bass stock and the chanter stock are replacements, with two old ivory ferrules slightly turned to match the originals. The blowstick is not original to the set, but has been turned in a matching colour and with an ivory mount. Some ivory gaps have been patched. The ferrule on one tenor drone appears to have had a large piece broken off cleanly at some point and glued back into place. Though the join is quite visible, it is solid and should not come loose with normal use.

The pipes have been stripped and refinished.

The pipes are full and steady in the Starck tradition, with a lovely blend with the chanter typical of cocuswood.
 

SOLD - This African blackwood set was made by the R. G. Lawrie company, likely in the 1950s or a bit earlier. The drones are mounted fully in imitation ivory, while the stocks have classic Lawrie nickel ferrules.

All pieces are original except for the blowstick, which is a blackwood mounted replacement. The blowstick stock had a small crack, which has been whipped, almost imperceptibly. The original chanter comes with the pipes -- a thick old stick typical of 1940s or 1950s chanters.



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SOLD - This is a stunning set of ebony Lawries from the midst of John MacColl's career with the company. It displays the classic tapered ferrules and shallow bells typical of the make. They are extremely full, rich and steady.

The previous owner was playing the pipes with hairline cracks in the bass stock, one tenor stock and the bass middle joint -- not unusual for ebony pipes of this age. These have been invisible whipped to eliminate future problems.

The R. G. Lawrie company was certainly the equal of Peter Henderson in both tonal and manufacturing quality during the early part of the century. The internal specs of their pipes were virtually identical, they jobbed out to one another, and they shared some of the same turners. Tonally, their pipes are identical, with a big, rich tone and tremendous steadiness.

The number of top players who have won premier prizes with classic Lawries or Hendersons is remarkable.

This set has been refinished.


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SOLD - Lawrie pipes were among the best of the early part of the 20th-century, and this includes mid-range work-a-day sets like this one. This set is superb ebony with ivory projecting mounts and caps, and classic Lawrie tapered nickel ferrules.

It can be difficult to date these models, but the use of high-grade ebony and the ivory patina on this set suggest late 1920s or early 1930s.

These pipes came back to me from a previous customer who purchased them several years ago, has added to his collection and decided it was time to downsize. I don't have a record of what work was done during refurbishment other than refinishing. The invisible whipping I have done on pipes now is almost imperceptible, but I have gone over these with a fine tooth comb and I can't find any whipping. The blowpipe stock was cracked when I received the pipes back and that has been invisible whipped and the blowstick bored out.

But for a couple of small age chips, the ivory and wood are all in excellent condition.

The set is bold, rich and steady in the old Lawrie tradition.




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SOLD - This set of Robertsons was originally mounted in casein, an imitation ivory material used in the early and mid-1900s. Casein unfortunately breaks down over time to acquire an unattractive chalky appearance. The casein on this set had deteriorated quite a bit, which would date them from the 1930s or 1940. The pipes themselves were in superb condition, so the casein mounts were removed and replaced with cocobola wood.

The pipes were stripped and refinished when they were remounted.

James Robertson made pipes from just before the Great War until he died in 1948. His company continued into the 1960s. His reputation for tonal and manufacturing consistency over this long period of time is almost unequalled. His drones are full, rich and steady, and this set is no exception.

SOLD - William Sinclair & Son has been a premier pipemaker since it was founded in 1931 in Edinburgh. Though the Sinclair chanter has been an iconic band chanter since the 1950s, Sinclair drones have gained an equal reputation for craftsmanship, steadiness and tonal brilliance. I won the Gold Medals at Oban and Inverness and the Clasp at Inverness on a set of silver and ivory 1948 Sinclair drones.

This is an absolutely lovely set, in superb shape, with great lines and a lovely, bright sound like my set. The slides are engraved sterling silver, hallmarked 1945. The Sinclair practice of putting serial numbers on chanters has been followed here as well. Barely visible on the top of the slide on the bass bottom is "432201-945" -- the last three numbers matching the hallmark date on the silver.

A new blowpipe and stock were made with original mounts to replace the cracked originals. Both are lined with polypenco to prevent cracking.

The wood and ivory on this set are gorgeous, and they sport the distinctive one-piece-full ivory caps typical of the Sinclair brand. The pipes play beautifully -- steady, rich and bright. The chanter is original and looks like it has been broken and expertly put back together again. It plays beautifully.

Bob Hardie made pipes from the late 1940s until the 1980s. He was a careful craftsman and used excellent blackwood.

His pipes are extremely steady, though they do not produce a big sound like the old Henderson or Lawrie sets. They are a very reliable and effective choice for a hobby piper wanting a stable, trouble-free silver and ivory set.

This set is in superb condition, with no flaws on the wood or ivory. It appears that one tenor stock and the blowstick stock are newer than the rest of the set (original mounts), and were probably replaced at the Hardie shop at some point.

The pipes were recently refinished.


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SOLD - This Lawrie set is hallmarked 1951-52. Two of the pieces (including the chanter sole) are hallmarked 10 years later, but are perfect matches. The pipes were apparently bought new in 1952. The wood appears to be a mix of blackwood and ebony.

All pieces are original and there are no cracks. The ivory blowtick bulb has been lost, though the orignal engraved mouthpiece sleeve remains. One of the ivory ferrules on the bass has some age cracks on the bottom, but the ferrule is still solid.

The hand-engraved silver is outstanding, as evidenced by the photos of the chanter sole and the three ferrules.

The pipes play with great power and steadiness -- typical Lawrie attributes.

The chanter doesn't appear to be original to the pipes. Where the bulb meets the stock is not a perfect match in diameter, which it would be if it were the original Lawrie chanter. This may not be a bad thing. While Lawrie drones are top-of-the-heap, the chanters... not so much. This chanter has no maker's name. It is quite good, though I can't say for sure who made it. If I were guessing I would say Sinclair.

SOLD - This set of 1940s Henry Starck pipes comes from the estate of Captain John MacLellan, who purchased them in Edinburgh in the 1970s. Henry Starck came from a German woodwind making family that immigrated to London in the early 1800s. Henry began making pipes in 1889 and the company continued into the mid-1900s. The company was renown for its meticulous craftsmanship and instruments that can stand up against the best pipes in the business.

This set is blackwood, and all of the mounts are ivory. The tuning slides are nickel. It is very likely that the pipes underwent a cosmetic refurb just before Captain MacLellan purchased them, and it's possible that the ivory ferrules were added at that time as the ferrules do not look as old as the projecting mounts and ring caps. The pipes were probably refinished then as well.

All pieces are original. One projecting mount broke in transit, but the break was perfectly clean and it has been glued back into place with just a light line visible at the join.

The tone is full and steady and similar to a set of modern Naills. This may be no coincidence, as Naill founder Les Cowell trained at Starck's in the 1950s. The pipes are in virtually new condition.
 

SOLD - This Henderson set is tonally superb. It is ebony, mounted fully in ivory. All pieces are original except for the blowpipe stock, which is a replacement with the original mount.

The ivory has been lightly skimmed to remove stains. The middle joint of the bass drone had a shallow surface crack that has been invisibly whipped.

I played this set for a month, and they are absolutely first-class Hendersons:  a big, booming drone sound, rich and locking and a lovely, bass that cradles the sound of the bagpipe.

The pipes have been refinished. The photo of the drone tops shows a slight flaw in the ivory ring of the middle drone. This has since been repaired.

This bagpipe could win Gold Medals. Of course, you'd have to play pretty well too!

SOLD - This set of Hendersons is thought to date from around the turn of the last century. It is ebony, fully mounted in immaculate ivory, and has plain silver slides that were added at a later date. The pipes play beautifully – a full, rich, steady Henderson sound with great chanter blend. All pieces are original, except for the blowpipe stock which was missing, and has been replaced with a poly-lined blackwood stock and a matching ivory mount.

There are two surface cracks in the drones. One, in a tenor top, appeared 16 years ago, was glued, and has never moved since. The other, barely visible, was in the bass top when the pipes were purchased 25 years ago from Jim McIntosh, and it has never moved. Another crack in the chanter stock, though not right through, appeared a bit threatening and has been invisible-whipped. The pipes have been played regularly in Ontario's extreme climate for 25 years.

This is really a lovely bagpipe, and the silver slides set the ivory off nicely. Tonally, this is a first-class instrument and would suit competitors right up to Gold Medal level.