This Sinclair set came to me in excellent condition save for a cracked blowpipe stock that has been invisible whipped and will give no more problems. The original finish has been maintained and polished. The tuning chambers were evened up, and the set was re-hemped and oiled.

The pipes were likely made in the 1950s and feature the solid ivory ring caps that both the Sinclair and MacPherson pipemaking companies in Edinburgh were known for. The bass ring cap was unfortunately broken in the near past and was replaced by Dunbar Bagpipes using their premium imitation ivory.

Sinclair pipes are known for their full and very bright sound. I played a Sinclair set all through the 1980s, winning the Gold Medal and Clasp at Inverness as well as the Glenfiddich M/S/R, so I have a soft spot for this maker!

These pipes played as expected, so it was bit of a trip down memory lane for me.

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As shown, sticks and stocks only
CAD $4,950 plus shipping

Set up to play by Jim McGillivray with Ross or Bannatyne bag, polypenco chanter of choice, Ezeedrone drone reeds, Highland Gear bag cover, plain coloured silk drone cords, plastic chanter cap. (To add Ross or Bannatyne Canister system and Ross valve/watertrap, add CAD $165) (For an African Blackwood chanter instead of polypenco, request add-on price.)
CAD $5,695 plus shipping

David Glen made bagpipes in Edinburgh from 1873 when his father Alexander died until his own passing in 1916. This is a classic David Glen button-mount bagpipe in Caribbean cocsuwood, with lovely ivory ferrules and rings. It is stamped on the top of the bass drone stock, “DAVID GLEN EDINBURGH”.

The set has been refinished at some time and is quite pristine. One ivory stock ferrule has a hairline crack that is quite stable.

These pipes sat on my shoulder light as a feather and hummed away in the usual, mellow Glen fashion:  slightly subdued, but rich and steady. A lovely bagpipe.

As shown, sticks and stocks only
CAD $3,950 plus shipping

Set up to play by Jim McGillivray with Ross or Bannatyne bag, polypenco chanter of choice, Ezeedrone drone reeds, Highland Gear bag cover, plain coloured silk drone cords, plastic chanter cap. (To add Ross or Bannatyne Canister system and Ross valve/watertrap, add CAD $165) (For an African Blackwood chanter instead of polypenco, request add-on price.)
CAD $4,695 plus shipping

This is one of several Center sets we’ve had in the shop over the years. This set was probably made in the years around 1900.  It appears to be African blackwood, though it may be ebony.

The stocks are replacements in African blackwood, using the original mounts.  One tenor drone projecting mount had a small chunk broken out of it, and it is visible in the pictures. However, this has since been filled. There is a small but stable split in one tenor drone ring.

These pipes displayed a subdued, mellow sound. They are quiet, they tune a bit low, and they are very steady.

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As shown, sticks and stocks only
CAD $3,050 plus shipping

Set up to play by Jim McGillivray with Ross or Bannatyne bag, polypenco chanter of choice, Ezeedrone drone reeds, Highland Gear bag cover, plain coloured silk drone cords, plastic chanter cap. (To add Ross or Bannatyne Canister system and Ross valve/watertrap, add CAD $165) (For an African Blackwood chanter instead of polypenco, request add-on price.)
CAD $3,795 plus shipping

Robert Reid was one of the greatest players of the 20th century. He operated a small pipemaking firm from 1932 until 1957 in Glasgow, so this bagpipe has a bit of history going for it in addition to a great sound.

The bagpipe is mounted in full ivory with projecting mounts in the Henderson tradition.

The pipes are in excellent condition but for a couple of ivory chips and a slightly stained blowpipe mount.

I’d never played a Robert Reid bagpipe before this and I was pleasantly surprised. I tested the pipes while I was testing four lovely sets of old Hendersons, and this bagpipe sounded right at home: very full and resonant, with great chanter blend and steadiness.

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As shown, sticks and stocks only
CAD $4,450 plus shipping

Set up to play by Jim McGillivray with Ross or Bannatyne bag, polypenco chanter of choice, Ezeedrone drone reeds, Highland Gear bag cover, plain coloured silk drone cords, plastic chanter cap. (To add Ross or Bannatyne Canister system and Ross valve/watertrap, add CAD $165) (For an African Blackwood chanter instead of polypenco, request add-on price.)
CAD $5,195 plus shipping

This would be a confusing bagpipe to come across because it was remounted at some point with non-replica mounts. After considerable study, the pipes were determined to have probably been made in the 1930s.

At some point the pipes were remounted by the David Naill company, who used their own projecting mount design.  The ring caps were not touched, and are ivory. Hemp stops were added during the remount.  Overall, the pipes are in excellent condition. All pieces appear to be original.

Like several other sets on the site right now, this set was full, classic Henderson: rich, steady and enveloping.

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As shown, sticks and stocks only
CAD $4,250 plus shipping

Set up to play by Jim McGillivray with Ross or Bannatyne bag, polypenco chanter of choice, Ezeedrone drone reeds, Highland Gear bag cover, plain coloured silk drone cords, plastic chanter cap. (To add Ross or Bannatyne Canister system and Ross valve/watertrap, add CAD $165) (For an African Blackwood chanter instead of polypenco, request add-on price.)
CAD $4,995 plus shipping

This set likely dates from around 1900 or a little later. It is made in ebony and full mounted in ivory. It was purchased as a Duncan MacDougall, but since that time has been identified being John Center.

At some point fairly recently the set was stripped and refinished by Dunbar Bagpipes. One of the tenor tops had been broken and subsequently lost, so a replica piece was made in African blackwood, with premium imitation ivory mounts that match the set extremely well. The blowpipe had also been lost. A replica has been made with a nicely matching holly mount. The set is priced accordingly.

The pipes played with a seamless and steady tone, with an excellent chanter blend.

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As shown, sticks and stocks only
CAD $4,150 plus shipping

Set up to play by Jim McGillivray with Ross or Bannatyne bag, polypenco chanter of choice, Ezeedrone drone reeds, Highland Gear bag cover, plain coloured silk drone cords, plastic chanter cap. (To add Ross or Bannatyne Canister system and Ross valve/watertrap, add CAD $165) (For an African Blackwood chanter instead of polypenco, request add-on price.)
CAD $4,895  plus shipping

The company “Chisholm and Hunters” or just plain “John Chisholm” was listed as a bagpipe maker from 1901 until 1949, according to Jeannie Campbell’s expert book “Highland Bagpipe Makers.” The company carried sundry non-piping-related items as well, and quite likely bought pipes from other makers. Vintage expert Ringo Bowen believes, on the strength of a former Robertson employee, that many of the early Chisholm sets were made by Lawrie, and later sets by the James Robertson company. This set falls into the latter category, and is in fact one of the sets pictured on Ringo’s Bagpipe Museum “John Chisholm” page.

Likely made by either James Robertson himself or James Martin — perhaps Robertson’s best turner — the set displays some differences from Robertson sets, but the wood projecting mounts, the stocks and the tapered tuning chamber externals display a distinctly Robertson flavour. The instrument is beautifully turned.

Any doubts about the make evaporated when I played the drones with my own Canning reeds. They were robust, seamless and steady very much like scores of Robertson’s I’ve played.

The pipes are in great shape. The ferrules are nickel and the caps are what appears to be imitation ivory. The imitation ivory may not be original. The blowstick stock had a small crack that was been repaired. There is one rice-grain sized chip on the bead on the plastic bass ring cap.

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As shown, sticks only
CAD $3,950 plus shipping

Set up to play by Jim McGillivray with Ross or Bannatyne bag, polypenco chanter of choice, Ezeedrone drone reeds, Highland Gear bag cover, plain coloured silk drone cords, plastic chanter cap. (To add Ross or Bannatyne Canister system and Ross valve/watertrap, add CAD $165) (For an African Blackwood chanter instead of polypenco, request add-on price.)
CAD $4,695  plus shipping