The joys and dangers of Ebay pipes

[OC Richard]

Did anyone see what price the Robertson ivory & FN-mounted closed at? Last I looked, a couple hours before close, it was a bit over $2000. I suspect that last-minute bidding would have put it over $3000.

Or the Piob Mhor D&N-mounted set? Last I looked it was a bit over $300, and I can't imagine it would have closed that low. The mounts looked plastic in the photos, which didn't however seem clear enough to see Schreger lines if those were present. I would guess that even with Piob Mhor not having a big reputation, a lovely Scottish-made African Blackwood set would go in the $700-900 range or more.

[JPS]

Did anyone see what price the Robertson ivory & FN-mounted closed at? Last I looked, a couple hours before close, it was a bit over $2000. I suspect that last-minute bidding would have put it over $3000.

Or the Piob Mhor D&N-mounted set? Last I looked it was a bit over $300, and I can't imagine it would have closed that low. The mounts looked plastic in the photos, which didn't however seem clear enough to see Schreger lines if those were present. I would guess that even with Piob Mhor not having a big reputation, a lovely Scottish-made African Blackwood set would go in the $700-900 range or more.

Over $3,000 is right. They closed at $4,610 + shipping! If you got it, use it, I guess.

[OC Richard]

Over $3,000 is right. They closed at $4,610 + shipping! If you got it, use it, I guess.

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.

[OC Richard]

Here's a Hardie set given a wildly inaccurate date:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/22549386852...ndition=4%7C10

I know because I worked at a Highland Outfitter who sold Hardie pipes at the time Hardie introduced this swirly marble-like imitation ivory.

I worked for the shop from 1983 to 1988 and as best I can recall it was around the midpoint of my time there that a shipment of pipes and practice chanters direct from Hardie appeared with these mounts.

It was strange stuff! Swirls of two different sorts of plastic, the lighter colour hard and brittle, the darker color soft and slightly rubbery (you could press a fingernail into it).

It was extremely prone to cracking, often along the juncture between the two sorts of plastic. Shipments came with broken mounts quite often, as Hardie wasn't good about packing their things, typically just tossing them in a box to rattle around during shipping. (I was the one who generally opened the boxes.)

Prior to that marblised plastic, Hardie was using a plain plastic that had a very slight greenish tint when new, but as it aged looked slightly more like ivory. At least it didn't chip as much.

Here's the marble stuff introduced in the mid-1980s

[OC Richard]

These are stunning pipes, with a Buy It Now far below what they would cost new.

I really like how Naill is doing the vintage Glen-style (Edinburgh style) projecting mounts, and I love their "aged" imitation ivory.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/14505257078...ndition=4%7C10

[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.)