Nicoll Bros sporran Ebay find and Pipe Band sporrans

[OC Richard]

As people who hang around Pipe Bands probably has noticed, an amazingly large number of pipe bands wear the same type of sporran, a black leather "hunting" sporran with chrome Evening sporran top stuck on. My supposition is that when all the bands went to the Black Argyll Jacket & Ghillies look back in the 1980s they reckoned that Day sporrans weren't dressy enough and Evening sporrans were too dressy. And besides, Hunting sporrans don't have any tassels to fall off!

Anyhow here's the most common style of what I call "Pipe Band sporran", a lovely example made by L&M Highland Outfitters in Nova Scotia Canada



Now unfortunately our band decided to go cheap and buy the Pakistani version, which I detest. Note the huge domelike bosses etc



So at that time I bought, on the cheap on Ebay, an ex-hire sporran of roughly similar style made by Gaelic Themes. I aint wearing a Pakistani sporran! And I've worn it now since 2007 in the band.

Well last week my eye, on Ebay, was caught by a lovely sporran of similar style made by Nicoll Bros, Bankfoot, Scotland. I put in a pretty big bid and won it. It's arrived and it's lovely as I knew it would be. For those that don't know, Nicoll Bros was one of Scotland's oldest sporranmakers, having been around since the 1840s as I recall, and a long-time sporranmaker for the military. "The real deal" in other words.

Here it is, with the Gaelic Themes sporran for comparison.



The sporran on the left is stamped "Gaelic Themes Scotland" and "Made in Scotland" on the leather on the back. The sporran on the right is stamped "Nicoll Bros Bankfoot" on the leather on the back, and stamped "Nicoll Bros Scotland" on the side of the cantle.

Note the different proportions: the Gaelic Themes sporran is 6 7/8" wide at its widest point and 8 3/4" tall (174mm x 223mm) while the Nicoll Bros sporran is 7" wide and 8 3/8" tall (182mm x 213mm). Both cantles are identical in width 6 1/8" (155mm).

It's cool to see these "variations on a theme". I'll wear the Nicoll Bros sporran now in the band and sell the Gaelic Themes one to a bandmate who wants to ditch his Pakistani sporran.

[dea3369]

Good for you! I'm really learning many new things in these forums (fora?). I may start looking at eBay for stuff.

[English Bloke]

Nice find OC.

[cessna152towser]

Very nice find.
Nicoll Bros of Bankfoot sporrans are long out of production.
I have two Nicoll sporrans from 1993/94 which I can still wear, they have outlasted cheaper sporrans which I have purchased in the new millenium.

[OC Richard]

Very nice find.
Nicoll Bros of Bankfoot sporrans are long out of production.
I have two Nicoll sporrans from 1993/94 which I can still wear, they have outlasted cheaper sporrans which I have purchased in the new millenium.

Yes indeed Nicoll Bros sporrans are of the highest quality and will last a few lifetimes, probably. I bought a bespoke Nicoll Bros fur Evening sporran back around 2004 and I've worn it countless hours and it's held up to all that use very well. BTW when I bought that one Nicoll Bros sold only wholesale and their sporrans were retailed through Piob Mhor in Blairgowrie as I recall.

[creagdhubh]

BTW when I bought that one Nicoll Bros sold only wholesale and their sporrans were retailed through Piob Mhor in Blairgowrie as I recall.

That is correct, Richard. I have a pair of patent leather bar and buckle brogues made by Nicoll Brothers - they are very nice indeed!

Look at all the white hose in this 'bonnie knees' photo at a Clan Macpherson AGM. Ha-ha!


An interesting shot of my brogues.


Cheers,

[davidg]

BTW when I bought that one Nicoll Bros sold only wholesale and their sporrans were retailed through Piob Mhor in Blairgowrie as I recall.

I'm not sure that's quite correct. When I bought Nicoll Bros sporrans trade I'm sure they were through Piobh Mhor and that Piobh Mhor actually ownded the company. In other words, BOTH retail and trade were through Piobh Mhor. It's a long time ago now and memory can play tricks but I'm sure they were joined at the hip as if one

[creagdhubh]

I'm not sure that's quite correct. When I bought Nicoll Bros sporrans trade I'm sure they were through Piobh Mhor and that Piobh Mhor actually ownded the company. In other words, BOTH retail and trade were through Piobh Mhor. It's a long time ago now and memory can play tricks but I'm sure they were joined at the hip as if one

I do recall the retailer of Piobh Mhor in Blairgowrie, as I have been to Blairgowrie many, many times - my Chief (Sir William Alan Macpherson of Cluny and Blairgowrie, TD, Baron of Blair) is the Baron of Blair and lives there, at Newton Castle.

Cheers,

[OC Richard]

Yes it could well be the case that Piob Mhor actually bought out Nicoll Bros.

Just to be quite clear, and for the record, the Blairgowrie firm is spelt Piob Mhor, and is not to be confused with the Glasgow firm Piobmor Highland Industries Ltd which operated from 1948 to 1951.

Anyhow here I am wearing that Nicoll Bros sporran I had made to my specifications back around 2004



and here it is along with some of my other sporrans

[davidg]

You're quite right about the spelling. It's a long while since I actually used them but I did speak to Gwen, one of the owners, just a couple of months ago

I like the goat hair sporran. I would like one similar but with a very plain cantle