Biscuit tin containing 26 bagpipe chanter and drone reeds

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Tin containing 26 bagpipe chanter and drone reeds including six bagpipe chanter reeds, two practice chanter reeds, six bass drone reeds, and twelve tenor drone reeds all made from Spanish cane or Arundo Donax. The tin is marked "Macfarlane, Lang & Co. Biscuits / Glasgow & London' and with a cipher and Royal Warrant. Early 20th century. Housed in a case for a set of Union bagpipes (H.1995.795.1) that belonged to William Mackie.

A strong type of cane, Arundo Donax, both farmed and naturally grown, is favoured for making reeds for bagpipes as well as for other musical wind instruments. The drone reed, a so-called 'single reed', uses the whole body of the cane. The same cane is also cut into thin blades to make into chanter reeds, the so-called 'double reed'.

The cane is cut into lengths, longer lengths and larger bodied cane supplying bass drone reeds, one end is blocked off at a natural division within the cane; the 'blade' is cut horizontally and this produces a 'tongue' which vibrates freely in the flow of air from the bag into the drones. The cane reed is 'seated' in the bottom end of the drone.

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• Online ID: 000-000-579-840-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: The Bagpipe Collection
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  K.2002.1367.8.1 - 1367.8.27
• Date: Early 20th century (date of manufacture)
  
• Material: Tin, paint and Spanish cane
  Tin and 26 bagpipe chanter and drone reeds.
  
• Dimensions: Tin 157 mm L x 77 mm W x 34 mm Depth
  
• What: Tin and 26 bagpipe chanter and drone reeds.
  
• Subject:
• Who: Macfarlane, Lang and Co. Biscuits (manufacturer)
  William Mackie (owner of case)
  
• Where: Scotland, Glasgow (place of manufacture)
  
• Event:
• Description: Painted biscuit tin used to hold 26 bagpipe chanter and drone reeds made of Spanish cane or Arundo Donax.
  
• References:
  • Baines, Anthony,. Bagpipes. Occasional Paper on Technology 9, Oxford University Press, 1973. 
• Translations:
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