The joys and dangers of Ebay pipes

[Toxpert]

Wow.

For Sterling Silver that's a good price, however the seller told me he went over the mounts with a loupe and there were no stamps of any sort.

Which indicates Frederick Narborough solid nickel mounts, which are beautiful but not Silver.

The Robertson mounts are a silver alloy. Less silver content than sterling and soft enough to work the engraving and reposse’ work. Enough silver content to shine like silver; without worry of wearing through silver-plate. Blowpipe ivory has a couple of non-structural tiny cracks, otherwise wood and ivory are in exceptional condition. Bass mid required a new tuning pin (broken tip). Repair is flawless. Classic, balanced Robertson tone and pipes lock in and tuning is rock-steady.
I have listed on ePrey a set of very nice casein Robertsons which the above have replaced. The casein is in extraordinary condition and has not degraded and is a rock-hard finish. Excellent set for a pro performance without ivory worries.
The seller refunded me for costs related to required repairs. Together with seller refund and selling the un-needed Hardie chanter, the cost for the Robertson set was less than $4000. This price was less than what I see for the respected-resellers...and the pipes were actually in very good condition. Everything all cleaned up and gleaming now...fantastic tone to my critical ears.

[Snoopy69]

I was very fortunate.......I located a set of Hardies dated 1969 with ivory mounts and an ivory soled chanter for 1500.00 on ebay. Took a bit of playing with them but I have them dialed in pretty well now and I love playing them.

Eric Schutte

[OC Richard]

Here's a fascinating Frankenpipe.

At first glance my impression is parts by

-RG Lawrie
-another Glasgow maker
-Starck, London
-and a more recent-looking part.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/35474587599...Cclp%3A2047675

[Toxpert]

Seller calls it a "Victor" set. Bits and bobs from the parts bin? Could be interesting.

I have a set of pre-1910 Lawries with a early MacDougall-style bass bottom with marine ivory. The story (unconfirmed) is the original owner was a WWI piper and the bass bottom was a battlefield replacement. Prior to my acquisition, the pipes sat unused for decades in the widow's house. Upon her death, the pipes were acquired by estate sale buyer...who listed them on ePrey. I negotiated with the seller for a fair restoration salvage price. All stocks and blowpipe were cracked/split. The bottom of the wooden case was rotted away, bag crumbled, cover and cords mostly eaten, ribbons crumbled to the touch. Drone parts were in great condition! Repairs complete for pipes and box...the set now plays with a ebony reproduction bass bottom with vintage mounts that are very close match. The MacDougall-style bottom sits in the box.

[OC Richard]

I bought a set in more or less similar circumstances.

An old widow was having a yard sale/garage sale in the late 1970s.

She and her husband, a World War One veteran, had moved from Scotland to California shortly after the war, and bought the house the widow still lived in.

He had died in 1928 and his pipes had sat in the case untouched since then.

They were quite a time capsule! The pipe box was gorgeous, solid Cherry with skillfully carved decoration consisting of a large St Andrews Cross and the initials W. K. in Old English font.

Inside, in perfect nick, was a set of full-ivory pipes, a Henderson practice chanter, and three Henderson pipe chanters, two of them split.

The wool bag-cover and silk ribbons were Hunting Stewart tartan indicating the Royal Scots.

I can't now recall whether I paid $200 or $150, but I was in the nick of time, because an Interior Decorator was heading there to purchase them. He told the widow he was going to hang them on the wall of a client's home.

They were great pipes! I measured the bores and found that one tenor was slightly smaller in every spec than the other. (Unfortunately I lost the measurements.)

[OC Richard]

Here's an old basic chalice Lawrie set that might be a high-quality player.

It looks to be in fine condition however missing one ferrule. Catalin bushes and chanter sole with nice patina.

It's got the Scottish Shopper (Seattle) label.

These sets were common and not highly regarded by most, that is, until Alasdair Gillies got one and of course in his hands it sounded magnificent.

Thus this set will probably fetch three or four times what it would have previously.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/14508694532...ndition=4%7C10

There's an aesthetic thing generally seen with old Lawries. With many modern pipes the Bass and Tenors have the same OD and use the same ferrules and the same projecting mounts; only the length differs.

With old Lawries the Tenors were smaller overall, with slender ODs, smaller tops, smaller ferrules and mounts, having a delicate appearance compared to the Bass.

Here the difference in ferrule size can clearly be seen.