Vintage Bagpipe Archive

Hendersons, Circa 1900, Ebony, Full Ivory with Plain Sterling Silver Slides

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.

Full Silver Hendersons, Circa 1920

SOLD – This is a spectacular set of full-silver Henderson pipes dating from sometime around 1920. It’s an unusual set in that the hallmark on the chanter sole is dated 1908, on the ferrules 1920, and on the projecting mounts 1923-24. So the 1920 date of the pipes is really a guesstimate based on the varying age of the hallmarks. It’s possible that pipes are earlier and the silver added later.

The silver is almost certainly not factory-installed. The drones are all original, and it appears that the tenor stocks are older replacements. The blowstick stock was cracked and has been replaced with a new, poly-lined blackwood stock. All of the wood has been refinished.

A flaw on the pipes is shown in the last two photos below: the bottom of the lower projecting mount on one tenor bottom has been dented in fairly substantially. However, as the photos show, it is visible only when you turn the drone bottom up to look at it. It is not otherwise apparent, and it was some time after I acquired the pipes that I discovered this blemish. There are a number of other quite minor bumps on the silver typical of a full silver set of this age.

The projecting mounts on this set are hollow, so the pipes are much lighter than most comparable full-silvers. As the photos show, the silver is textured and elaborate: it is very ornate and pristine.

The sticks themselves run true and straight, and the tone of the drones is classic full and steady with the expected rich Henderson bass.

The silver sole is currently installed on a circa 1960s Hardie chanter. The original Henderson chanter without a sole is still with the pipes.

1956 Full Ivory Mounted Hardie, with Original Chanter

SOLD – The great Bob Hardie was one of the most successful pipemakers and pipe majors ever, and this is a set from the prime of his career. They had only one owner who purchased them new in 1956 from Bob’s Glasgow shop.

When I acquired this set I had them shipped from the original owner’s grand daughter directly to my refurbisher. He took one look and sent them straight to me, saying that aside from some staining on several of the ivory pieces like the tenor mounts shown in the photos, the pipes look like they were transported by time machine from 1956 to the present. Mint condition.

Hardie pipes are often described as producing a “mellow” drone sound, not as subdued as the old David Glen pipes, but not robust like Hendersons. They are extremely steady, with a good, solid bass sound. The trueness of the tuning chambers usually found in these older Hardies is a testament to Bob Hardie’s commitment to prime, well seasoned blackwood.

The pipes come with the original Hardie pipe chanter from 1956, one of the most popular, versatile and best loved chanters of all time.

Robertson, Full Ivory, 1941

SOLD – James Robertson set a high standard for pipemaking throughout his long career, and pipemakers without exception speak in reverential terms about his craftsmanship. His design and manufacturing standards were so consistent that it can be difficult to attach dates to his pipes. However, this set at one time had a bill of sale that dated them 1941, though the previous owner (only the second in the life of the instrument) has since lost it.

This set is blackwood, fully mounted in ivory, and shows James Robertson’s unmistakable mushroom-shaped projecting mounts and his characteristic scribe lines and beads on the ferrules. They are in pristine condition after refinishing, though the original blowstick has been replaced with a new delrin-lined blackwood one (original mount). Some of the mounts have some slight staining.

The set is classic Robertson – a full, rich sound and very steady.

Circa 1890s David Glen, Cocuswood, Full Ivory, Brass Slides, Stamped

SOLD – Full ivory David Glen pipes are not common. These sticks are cocuswood – David Glen’s favourite wood. The previous owner of this pipe lived in a dry climate in the US, and after he acquired the instrument several of the ivory ferrules cracked. He worked with an ivory conservator and made quite expert repairs that have held firmly now for many years.

The bass drone stock and the blowpipe also cracked. He inserted a marine glue that remains malleable after it dries, and these repairs have never moved. He also inserted a thin brass tube into the blowstick to further reinforce it. The repairs are visible, but not obvious, and since they have remained stable for decades they have not been altered.

The tuning chambers have brass slides, a fairly common practice for David Glen.

The David Glen stamp is barely visible on each of the tuning pins.

Glen was a meticulous craftsman, and his manufacturing standards were very consistent. As a result, it can be difficult to date his pipes. The age of the ivory and the fact that these pipes are cocuswood suggest that they were made prior to 1900.

David Glen drones are really a treat, and if you’re looking for a reliable and remarkably steady set of drones with a rich, buzzy, but not overwhelming tone, you can’t go wrong with them. They are easy to reed and blend superbly with the chanter. It’s a bright, cheerful drone sound.

These pipes required no additional restoration work. They spent several days in an almond oil bath.

Thow 3/4 Set in Ebony, 1920s, Nickel Ferrules, Ivory Ring Caps

SOLD – Thow made pipes out of Dundee from 1853-1953, and though not common, Thow pipes from the early 1900s are highly respected. The date of this set is unknown, though the patina of the ivory might suggest the 1920s. It is difficult to tell if they are blackwood or ebony, but they appear to be ebony.

The set is almost complete, including a superb, stamped chanter that plays close to Bb. There is no original blowstick or stock. Instead, the set has a regular-sized poly blowstick stock with a nickel mount, and a large-bore poly blowstick.

The ferrules are nickel and the ring caps and chanter sole are ivory.

The set comes with cane reeds that go very nicely, though a set of Ezeedrone 3/4 drone reeds are available for an extra $95. The pipes are equipped with a regular-sized hide bag in excellent shape. It also comes with what is likely its original wooden case.

The set plays beautifully at around Bb with a nice, easy reed. Great set for a child or as a ceilidh or indoor instrument.

Larwrie, Circa 1905, Ebony, Silver and Ivory

SOLD – This is one of the earliest silver and ivory Lawries we’ve had on the site in a long time. All of the pieces are original except for the blowpipe, which is a poly replica with internal valve and the original mount. The chanter is an old Hardie fitted with the original engraved silver sole. The blowpipe bulb is modern polypenco, and the sleeve is engraved nickel. The blowpipe mount has aged more than the rest of the ivory, but does appear to be original. I suspect an owner at some point used a different blowpipe and stored the original in a damp place. One lower projecting mount has a rice-grain-sized chip.

The set was dated by the previous owner, and external evidence and profiles support a date that could indeed be as early as 1905.

As with any 100+ year old ebony, there were three or four hairline crack on the outside of the wood. None threatened any of the pieces, but I prefer to have all of these sealed or invisible whipped as required. No whipping was needed on this set.

It should be noted that this style of Lawrie bagpipe with engraved, tapered, metal ferrules, are usually called “silver and ivory.” In fact, the silver is plating only. But Lawrie executed the best plating I’ve ever seen. Even after years of terrible tarnishing on the mounts of an unplayed pipes, these buff up to a gorgeous sheen.

The drones are a tonal masterpiece — big, bold and steady. This is a prize set.

R. G. Hardie, 1963-64, Hallmarked Engraved Sterling Silver, Ivory

SOLD – Bob Hardie and partner John Weatherston always used superb, well-seasoned wood. Their pipes are well made, steady, and easy to reed.

This set is mounted in ivory and engraved silver, hallmarked 1963-64. It is in superb shape. The only repair required to the wood was to seal a crack in the blowpipe stock. The ivory blowpipe bulb was cracked beyond repair and has been replaced by an artificial ivory bulb. The engraved silver sleeve is original.

The set was stripped and refinished and comes with the original Hardie chanter and silver sole. The chanter may well be beyond going well with today’s reeds, but its presence is a reflection of how well the pipes have been cared for.

Hardie pipes are sought in many circles for their mellower tone. They do not have overpowering volume but they are extremely steady.

This is a beautiful set in great condition, perfect for a hobbyist who would like a sparkling and steady high-end bagpipe.

Henderson, Circa 1930, Cocuswood/Brazillian Kingwood, Nickel, Ivory

SOLD – This is a slightly unusual Henderson set. It appears to be a mixture of cocuswood and Brazillian kingwood. This was not an uncommon Henderson configuration in the 1920s and 1930s. The ferrules are nickel, and the mounts and caps are ivory.

This is a tonally superb set, with a sweetness to the Henderson sound that is different from the more robust blackwood.

There are a couple of very slight dings in the projecting mounts, one on the blowstick, and a smaller one on the bass bottom.

The set has no original chanter (the chanter in the photographs was included by mistake). All stocks are replicas with matching ferrules, as there were no stocks with this set. The blowstick stock is a poly split stock, the rest are blackwood.

The pipes were refinished some years ago and the finish is still in excellent shape. The unusual wood configuration and replacement stocks result in a superb price for the classic Henderson sound.