I frequently come across vintage practice chanters, but rarely are they in tune, and rarely would I put them on the site. This chanter is a notable exception. It has a beautiful, rich, vibrant tone and is perfectly in tune with a John Walsh practice chanter reed. It’s hard to say when this chanter was …

This is a set of bellowsblown Scottish smallpipes made by Julian Goodacre, the drones identical to a set played by master player/composer Callum Armstrong. They are made of British yew and come with a chanter in the key of A, and one in the key of C. They were made in 2019 and have seen almost no playing by the previous owner. The number of tuning beads on the drones allow the pipes to adapt to any key of chanter. All reeds are plastic. They were purchased new for $3200. There is no bellows with the pipes.

Here is a dip into the dark side with a starter set of Uilleann pipes. The synthetic “Penny Chanters” are made by eastern United States pipemaker David Daye. I acquired the lot as is. There are four chanters. I’m not sure what the keys are, but I know there are chanters in three different keys. The largest chanter has four brass keys.  The standard synthetic bag that Daye’s starter sets come with has been upgraded to a brand new leather Kelleher bag. While I would prefer to sell the set without a bellows, I do have a spare virtually new Kelleher bellows here, and a price can be discussed. At the time the lot was acquired I was able to get a scale out of three of the chanters. The fourth has no reed. The lot is sold as is for a good price and is not backed up by any Uilleann pipe expertise!

A collection of reeds that came with the pipes is also included.

This item has been sold, but I have left the pictures and info up because it is a fascinating and historic piping item.

During the Great War, soldiers mired down in the trenches or in POW camps were known to fashion works of art out of materials at hand. This stamped Lawrie practice chanter appears to be exactly such a piece of history.

The wood is ebony, the ferrule is made from an indeterminate material, and the sole is either ivory or celluloid, but likely ivory. The barrel of the chanter has the following lines inscribed on it:

ROYAL SCOTS

SOUVENIR OF THE

GREAT WAR 1914-15

NEUVE CHAPPELLE . YPRES

FESTUBERT . HILL 60

FLEUBAIX . LA-BASSEE

Fleurbaix is misspelled as “Fleubaix.”

Most though not all of the battles carved into the chanter are in the Royal Scots’ battle honours list. Hill 60, for example, is often considered part of the first Battle of Ypres. Fleurbaix (which is misspelled as “Fleubaix”) actually occurred in 1916, later than the years “1914-15” carved into the chanter.

There is no guarantee that thi chanter was actually present in the trenches during these battles, but the fact that it is labelled as a “Souvenir,” of the war, the condition of the crudely mended mouthpiece and the inclusion of a limited number of battles certainly suggest that it was.

The chanter plays very nicely with a John Walsh practice chanter reed, though the D needs a piece of tape.