The joys and dangers of Ebay pipes

[Toxpert]

Note, the seller is basing his identification using the Henderson stamp on the practice chanter.
What the picture show is that this set of pipes are non-Henderson pipes from when the company jobbed out work. This was at the end of Henderson prior to the family selling the company to RG Hardie. These sets pop up every now and then.
Buyers get all upset when they find out their investment is not a real Henderson.
This set has the Lawrie attributes that Ringo points out and illustrates on his museum website. Look for When a Henderson Isn’t a Henderson.
The beading and combing pattern on this set harkens directly to Lawrie. As for tone…I will leave that for others to comment.

For the person looking for a vintage Henderson set of pipes…this is not the item to purchase. This was a bad period for Henderson at that point in time.

[OC Richard]

I heard back from the seller who sent me a large number of great photos.

The drones are stamped "Henderson" just under the cord guides (just as Kintail did).

The silver is fully hallmarked, "F.N" (Frederick Narborough) with the Birmingham anchor, English lion, and Date Letter for 1964.

I'll guess this set goes for well over $3,000.

According to Highland Bagpipe Makers Greig Sharpe was the shop manager from 1961 to 1971.

The book says that when Greig left to found Kintail in 1971 pipemaking at Henderson ceased.

According to the book Henderson sold pipes made by Lawrie from 1971 to 1973, at which time RG Hardie bought out Henderson.

[Toxpert]

This one is a cautionary tale in the making.
Check out Ringo’s website for Henderson stamps when pipes are not Henderson specs. https://www.thebagpipemuseum.com/the...derson-or-not/
The ebay pipes do not line up with Henderson specs. The tenor tops are a giveaway with only a total of 4 beads and the Lawrie Classic scribe line on the blank.see here for Ringo’s reference
https://i0.wp.com/www.thebagpipemuse...1%2C1000&ssl=1

Yeah…the silver and ivory are worth the coin…but not the pipes. The wood is not made to Henderson specs….inside or out. Chances of these pipes sounding like Henderson is a gamble I would not take.

Long story made short….the buyer is will get some quality silver and ivory and a set of pipes stamped Henderson that are not made by Henderson,

[Toxpert]

Follow up comment….
Someimes, you can find some real deals on eBay bagpipes. If you do not know your subject matter….you can get burned.
Are these Greg Sharp era Henderson, Lawrie-made?
I feel sorry for whomever buys this eBay set of non-Henderson pipes. The Henderson stamp appears on pipes in at least 3 instances: made by; sold by; forgeries. The last 2 categories of Henderson-stamped pipes have been around for years and more will continue to pop up…and unsuspecting buyers will be taken.

[Toxpert]

Here’s a link to a set of 1964 Henderson pipes from Greg Sharp era. Note 6 beads and Henderson style beading/combing….and the Sharp-characteristic thick beading on the ferrules.
https://www.cascadiabagpiper.com/for...erson-bagpipes

[OC Richard]

Nice pipes!

Yes that's what I've been told, the really good 1950s Hendersons have fat beads on the ferrules.

I didn't know it was connected to the Greig Sharp era, thanks!

Only problem is that those beads only appear on full ivory or full imitation ivory sets.

There's a certain style of wood projecting mount I associate with Hendersons of that era, I've seen several sets, but I don't know if there was a particular period when all their wood-mount sets used that pattern, or if it was just one of a number of patterns they made concurrently.

[Toxpert]

Well, the “Henderson” set sold for a bit over $2,000 USD. Not a bad price for just the silver and mounts. The pipes are not turned in the classic Henderson style. The story is over for now.