changed from what

[kilted redleg]

I was reading the piping press today https://pipingpress.com/ it had a great article by piping historian Jeanne Campbell which dealt with one of the earliest civilan pipe bands, the burough of Govan. According to the article in 1912 Govan became part of Glasgow and the band became the Glasgow Police pipe band, it further stated that they [band] changed to the Royal Stewart tartan. My question is "they switched from what to the RST" the article never states what tartan the band originally wore. Anybody know??

[cessna152towser]

According to Wikipedia, the Burgh of Govan Police Pipe Band's original tartan was designed and hand-spun by the Chief Constable and the Chief Constable's kilt was after the pattern of hodden-grey but with a purple stripe.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasgow_Police_Pipe_Band

[figheadair]

According to Wikipedia, the Burgh of Govan Police Pipe Band's original tartan was designed and hand-spun by the Chief Constable and the Chief Constable's kilt was after the pattern of hodden-grey but with a purple stripe.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasgow_Police_Pipe_Band

There's a bit of misinformation in Wiki article.



Following the link I found that the source document makes no reference to the colour of the tartan, nor the idea that the Chief constable hand-spun the yarn. The latter is a ridiculous assertion.

[OC Richard]

Here are the only two photos I quickly came up with online.

Neither is dated, but I suspect from the style of some of the mustaches the top photo was taken before 1912.

Sadly the tartans aren't well seen, but top photo appears to show a dark tartan with two light stripes alternating with one not-as-light stripe (see detail below).

The bottom photo appears to show Royal Stewart.



A closer look at the earlier tartan, quite obviously not Hodden Grey with a purple stripe:

[figheadair]

Here are the only two photos I quickly came up with online.

Neither is dated, but I suspect from the style of some of the mustaches the top photo was taken before 1912.

Sadly the tartans aren't well seen, but top photo appears to show a dark tartan with two light stripes alternating with one not-as-light stripe (see detail below).

The bottom photo appears to show Royal Stewart.

A closer look at the earlier tartan, quite obviously not Hodden Grey with a purple stripe:

According to this reference, the first photograph was taken in 1886.

I agree that the tartan in the second picture is Royal Stewart, the first is more problematical. It is certainly not Hodden Grey with a purple stripe. According to the official police history 'The first uniform was a home*spun kilt designed by the Chief Constable and this remained the uniform until 1913, when it was superseded by the Royal Stewart Tartan.' Homespun referred to a quality of cloth rather than the yarn having been home (hand) spun at that date. It is possible that it supplied from somewhere like The Highland Home Industries.

This is the best image I can find. Alas, the tartan appears to have been unique and not recorded in a way that would allow it to be reconstructed.