Catalogue Entry
R. G. Lawrie
Great Highland Bagpipe · early–mid 1930s · recommissioned for band and solo playing
Maker
R. G. Lawrie
Place
Glasgow
Period
Early–mid 1930s
Work
Recommissioning
Construction
African blackwood
Mounts
Imitation ivory
Metalwork
Nickel
Year
2026
Plate II · R. G. Lawrie · Glasgow · early–mid 1930s
01 · As Received
Nickel tarnished, with spots of corrosion.
Several different types of old hemp on the joints.
Wax build-up in the combing.
02 · Work Undertaken
Instrument stripped down to sticks and stocks.
Bores cleaned and oiled.
Combing hand-brushed; wax build-up removed from the combing.
Old hemp, of several kinds, removed from all joints on slides and stocks.
Timber hand-cleaned and lightly oiled.
Nickel hand-cleaned; tarnish reduced gradually, in stages; then hand-buffed and polished.
Bag replaced with a Canmore Hybrid.
Drone reeds fitted: Canning, with Canning Carbon bass.
Warnock poly chanter cleaned, fitted with a new Melvin reed and set to modern band pitch.
Existing bag cover and cords deep-cleaned and retained.
Flapper valve replaced with a Moose valve; moisture control fitted from the blowpipe.
Blowpipe rebuilt by a Sydney pipe maker to the original pattern, lengthened and opened out.
Instrument tuned.
Components Replaced
Bag: Canmore Hybrid.
Hemp: all joints.
Drone reeds: Canning, with Canning Carbon bass.
Valve: flapper replaced with Moose valve.
Moisture control: fitted from the blowpipe.
Blowpipe: rebuilt to the original pattern, lengthened and opened out.
Components Retained
African blackwood sticks and stocks: cleaned and lightly oiled.
Nickel ferrules and slides: cleaned and polished.
Imitation-ivory mounts.
Bag cover and cords: deep-cleaned.
Final Setup
Chanter: Warnock poly, Melvin reed, modern band pitch
Drone reeds: Canning, Canning Carbon bass
Bag: Canmore Hybrid
Valve: Moose; moisture control from the blowpipe
Blowpipe: rebuilt, lengthened and opened out
03 · The Approach
Prepared for band and solo playing.
The timber, mounts and metalwork were cleaned and kept. Changes were made only where they serve the player: a Moose valve and moisture control for modern convenience, and a blowpipe opened out because vintage blowpipe bores are heavily restrictive.
04 · Evidence
As received
During the work
As returned
05 · From the Bench
These were the first. Working on Michael’s Lawries, and eventually becoming their custodian, is what first pulled me seriously into older pipes and their restoration.
They are still played.
06 · Identification & Provenance
R. G. Lawrie, Glasgow. Maker’s stamp on the original chanter.
The chanter was matched to the set on timber, imitation-ivory sole, construction and ageing, and verified through the McFarlane group of vintage-pipe enthusiasts.
Dated to the early to mid 1930s by comparison with a documented 1936 Lawrie set.
Family instrument, now held by Jack Egan as custodian.
In playing use · 2026
INSTRUMENTS RECEIVED FOR EXAMINATION
Have an old set sitting in the cupboard? Send through a few photographs and whatever you know about its history. We can start there.