This set came to me as an Alex Glen, but has since been identified as John Center in Edinburgh, likely made in the 10 years around 1880. It is made of ebony, with ivory mounts.

The set was in excellent condition, requiring only a cleaning on the lathe, and invisible whipping a crack in the blowpipe stock.  The blowpipe is a replica with a holly mount.  The chanter shown in the photo does not match the pipes, though it came with them. It is an old Henderson chanter.

The pipes played with a rich, mellow steadiness. They are not a robust pipe, but a sweet one with lots of character.

You can hear Matt MacIsaac playing these pipes in studio conditions by clicking here.

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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 the 1890s 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 as possibly being Gavin MacDougall, possibly 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 $4,450 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

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 $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

This is a classic late 1920s-1930 Lawrie set distinguished by large beads on the ivory projecting mounts.

The set was in very good condition, and a complete strip revealed no cracks. The set was refinished, and fissures in the ivory bass ring and the blowstick projecting mount were filled and stabilized.  The blowpipe stock is a poly replica with the original mount. The tapered nickel mounts are in mint condition.

The set played with a rich, steady sound that locked nicely. The tenors tune a touch low.

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As shown, sticks only
CAD $3,450 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 $4,195  plus shipping

Not exactly a vintage offering, this set came into the shop for a very good price, and is being listed here at an equally good price.

The silver pattern is zoomorphic.  The blowpipe had been lined in brass to compensate for a crack that has been subsequently repaired but it was still visible. So we made a replica blowpipe, polypenco-lined, using the same mount.  The rest of the pipes are in like-new shape. They had one elderly owner, and it looks like they weren’t played much.  There is a silver plaque with the pipes, and if your name happens to be Justice William H. Stewart, the pipes will be perfect for you!  If that’s not your name, the shield slides right off the stock.

They play with a solid, steady tone, not quite as voluminous as the MacRae models, but bold and vibrant.

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As shown, sticks 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