Set of Scottish bagpipes, bellows-blown with bass and tenor drones only in a common stock

Set of bagpipes, Scottish, late 18th century, bellows-blown with bass and tenor drones only in a common stock. Used for chamber music and possibly for operatic performances. Bass drone in four sections looped to reduce the overall size of the instrument, returning through the stock and joined with a brass U-bend; single reed of cane is set in the drone and tuned with a drop of black cobbler's wax on the tongue. Tenor drone with two joints; single reed of cane is set in the drone and tuned with a drop of wax. Temperate hardwood, stained, brass and ivory mounted. Regulator and chanter missing. Sheepskin bag with green wool fringed cover cut and stitched to give a long neck for the chanter stock. Set of bellows of two boards or clappers of beech joined with an external brass hinge, mounted with a horn bush on the connecting pipe outlet. This set of pipes may be the work of Hugh Robertson of Edinburgh. Formerly stock of J. and R. Glen, Edinburgh, or from the collection of the firm's proprietors.

John and Robert Glen were the proprietors of a bagpipe-making and musical instrument repair business in Edinburgh in the late 19th century. The business was founded in 1827 in the Cowgate, moving later to North Bank Street, Edinburgh, by their father, Thomas McBean Glen (1804-1873), who in 1833 described himself in the business directories of the city as 'pipe and flute maker'. His sons, John (1833-1904) and Robert (1835-1911), took over the business in 1866. In 1911, the premises moved to 497 Lawnmarket where it survived as 'J & R Glen, Highland Bagpipe Makers' until 1978.

This piece comes from the Glen and Ross Collection of musical instruments which were preserved in the shop of 'J & R Glen, Highland Bagpipe Makers' until it closed about 1978. This was the business founded in 1827 by Thomas McBean Glen in the Cowgate in Edinburgh, dealing in and repairing musical instruments. His brother, Alexander Glen, specialized in bagpipe-making and was succeeded by his son David. Thomas' sons, John and Robert Glen, succeeding to the business in 1866, probably did most to collect instruments and their antiquarian interests were carried on by Andrew Ross who acquired the business from the Glens in 1947. The National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland purchased the bagpipe collections from the family in 1983.

Record details

To search on related items, click any linked text below.