The joys and dangers of Ebay pipes

**OC Richard** · 12th September 22, 04:14 AM

Here's a set on EbayUK which the seller says are 1960s Lawrie (Glasgow) but as you can see don't resemble Lawrie pipes in the least. I also doubted the date, as the pipes look more recent. All the Scottish makers AFAIK were using Catalin at that time.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255711803292

Notice the distinctive single bead occurring two places on the Tenor tops.

On another site a helpful piper informed us that these pipes are Glencoe (Ontario Canada).

https://www.thebagpipemuseum.com/the-makers/glencoe/

Matt Marshall served an apprenticeship with Lawrie in the 1960s then moved to Canada in the 1970s where he initially made Lawrie-style pipes but soon evolved his own distinct style. It's said he made around 500 sets before getting out of pipemaking by around 1980.

It's said that Glencoe pipes are stamped GLENCOE CANADA in the Bass cord guide.

I tried contacting the Ebay seller but I get a message saying that the seller can't be contacted, which is something I've never seen before in all my Ebay years.

**OC Richard** · 2nd October 22, 04:40 AM

Nice modern African blackwood pipes by David Booth for under $800US.

Even with the rather expensive post to the USA they're well under a thousand dollars.

I love the plain look, the wood projecting mounts. I'll take wood over plastic any day.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/11554722568...ndition=4%7C10

**OC Richard** · 21st November 22, 03:10 AM

Naill pipes with super low starting bid, under $400.

The seller doesn't show the stamps on the drones, but they look like Naill to me.

I can't recall seeing a Naill with that swirly resin imitation ivory. I've seen older Naills with Catalin and newer ones with plain ivory-coloured plastic.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/22526202319...ndition=4%7C10

**imrichmond** · 22nd November 22, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

I can't recall seeing a Naill with that swirly resin imitation ivory. I've seen older Naills with Catalin and newer ones with plain ivory-coloured plastic.

I haven't seen Naill pipes with that type of imitation ivory either, but for about 20 years I did own a Naill long ABW practice chanter that had a ferrule and sole made of that material. The chanter was given to me by a colleague in 1982 or '83 and had been bought by him in the mid-1970s.

**OC Richard** · 25th November 22, 06:49 AM

Thanks for the info!

I know Hardie was using it in the mid-1980s.

As I recall around the late 1970s to 1980 Hardie went from Catalin to a plain plastic which had a slightly greenish tinge when new.

Then they switched to that marble-looking resin which was very easily chipped.

**OC Richard** · 31st December 22, 03:10 AM

Yet another Ebay example of a Pakistani bagpipe with a Scottish-made practice chanter, and the unknowing seller stating that the bagpipe is made by the maker of the practice chanter.

The seller says "original box" but all the old Lawrie boxes I've seen are printed with the Lawrie name.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lawrie-Vint...p2056016.l4276

**OC Richard** · 1st January 23, 04:03 AM

A genuine RG Lawrie set, probably a very nice player, for under $700US.

I would jump on these, I'm a Lawrie fan, but I already have a nice 1930s Lawrie set.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-R-G...p2056016.l4276

**stickman** · 18th February 23, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

A genuine RG Lawrie set, probably a very nice player, for under $700US.

I would jump on these, I'm a Lawrie fan, but I already have a nice 1930s Lawrie set.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-R-G...p2056016.l4276

About fifty years ago my brother was telling a guy he worked with that I played the pipes. The guy replied with '' there is a bagpipe at my mothers house but I don't think it's any good. The bag is rotten and the metal has all turned black also the other parts have gone yellow". The only thing I could think of was silver and ivory. I asked my brother to ask if I could buy them. Kept asking him if he had asked his workmate. He hadn't. By the time he finally got around to asking about the pipes it was too late. Seems like his mother was cleaning house and tossed the pipes in the trash. When I heard that I was so upset I was almost sick. I was really upset with my brother for not asking if I could buy the pipes sooner. He said well what did you need them old pipes for you have good ones now. Just couldn't make him understand.

**WalesLax** · 19th February 23, 10:21 AM

Not necessarily a good or bad deal, but a beautiful set of engraved silver Naill's I wanted to share: https://www.ebay.com/itm/33474701957....c101124.m2109

**OC Richard** · 22nd February 23, 03:25 AM

Yes gorgeous Naills there!

Now here's a grab-your-popcorn set, silver & ivory Robertsons, currently under $900 but this will go into several thousands.

The set is within the USA so no ivory import issues for US buyers.

The mounts are obviously by Frederick Narborough (later Dalman & Narborough) however they made identical-looking mounts in solid nickel-silver and Sterling Silver and only the latter have date marks.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/25598671952...ndition=4%7C10