1920s Vintage JAMES ROBERTSON Silver Scottish Bagpipes Start Price GBP 3,000.00 Current Price GBP 3,000.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Thursday, July 03, 2008 End Time Sunday, July 13, 2008 Location Northern Ireland See more about '1920s Vintage JAMES ROBERTSON Silver Scottish Bagpipes' Description Note to eBay: This listing adheres to all eBay requirements for the listing of items containing vintage ivory parts. The ivory on these pipes is pre-CITES and a copy of the Article 10 Certificate as issued by DEFRA is included at the bottom of this listing.     The set of pipes being offered here is ready to ship now!  This pipe has been identified as a set of James Robertson bagpipes from their combing, known history and overall design.  These pipes are 1920/30s vintage, are made of African blackwood, and have hand-chased, "Thistle" pattern, Hallmarked Sterling silver ferrules, slides, ringcaps, and mouthtube together with genuine ivory projecting mounts, hemp retainers, and mouthpiece bulb.  (Pipes made by James Robertson are thought by many high level players to be on equal par with Peter Henderson pipes!)     These pipes are in honest "used" condition, and are free from any defects, warps or cracks in either the blackwood, or the hand-engraved Hallmarked Sterling silver mounts.  The African blackwood on these pipes has been buffed and polished rather than varnished giving these pipes a beautiful matt finish!  The genuine ivory projecting mounts on these pipes are very chunky, an undeniable feature of James Robertson pipes!     These pipes were owned and played by a friend of mine, and have been played in Grade II competitions over the last 2 years.  Earlier this year these pipes won the Ulster Solos (with a little help from the player) so you are guaranteed these pipes have been well looked after and regularly played!  These pipes are completely original but had the Hallmarked Sterling silver mounts added 25 years ago!  The Hallmarks on these pipes are for Birmingham 1983.  (Each individual ringcap, slide, ferrule and, the mouthtube, is individually Hallmarked.)    All in all this is an excellent vintage pipe with the quality of tone that can only come from an aged set of James Robertson pipes! The tone of these pipes can only be described as "Outstanding!" This is not only my opinion but also that of The RSPBA judges judging The Ulster Solos! You would expect to pay a minimum of £4,800.00 for a similar set of pipes if purchasing them from a bagpipe dealer or restorer.  (A new chased silver mounted set of pipes from a modern mid-priced Scottish manufacturer [not a vintage James Robertson instrument] retails at approx. £4,000.00 not including VAT!)  As such, the starting price for this set of pipes, reflects only a slight increment for a much better quality instrument with now unobtainable genuine ivory! These pipes have only 2 flaws worthy of mention.  The first is the most obvious, this being age lines on the genuine ivory mounts. All of the ivory mounts on these pipes have age striations to some degree but, as these pipes are 80 years old small flaws like this in the ivory are to be expected.  However, none of the ivory is chipped or been damaged by neglect.  The second flaw is that the blowpipe stock has been replaced.  Although this still has it's matching 1983 (Birmingham Hallmarked) Sterling silver ferrule the wood is not blackwood.  This is however easily replaced and, should the winning bidder so desire, I can get a new replacement blowpipe stock with matched combing made.   These pipes come as a set of sticks [drones & stocks] only, as it is thought these pipes will only be purchased by an experienced piper with his own choices in respect of bag, reeds, etc.  However, should additional accessories be required these can be supplied at cost.  Accessories you may wish to consider are:   Bannantyne (Goretex/hide) zipper pipe bag - £110.00 Ezeedrone/Selbie/Balance Tone/Shepherd synthetic drone reeds - £40.00 Black Velvet pipe bag cover - £30.00 Black silk cords - £20.00 New War-Mac African blackwood pipe chanter - £140.00 "Used" 1980 Wm Sinclair African blackwood pipe chanter - £160.00     Should any other specialist accesories, be required, these can be supplied seperately.  Should you have any questions regarding these pipes, or pipes in general, please e-mail me! (Being a piper I can answer all questions!)   Note 1 - Delivery will be made once payment has cleared.  (Payment accepted by UK cheque, by bank draft/Cashier's cheque in all major currencies and by credit card (Visa or Mastercard) through my own merchant account.)   Note 2 - As these bagpipes were made in the 1930s, the ivory on these pipes does not contravene the CITES legislation regarding post-1986 ivory.  A copy of the Article 10 certificate issued by DEFRA for the pipes is below.      Note to Bidders:  This is one of 6 vintage sets of pipes I currently have listed.  Of the other 5 sets, there is two 1950s, engraved silver and ivory Peter Henderson sets of pipes, one set of 1950s, silver, ivory and amethyst Peter Henderson pipes, one set of full ivory Gillanders of Forfar pipes and, one set of full ivory (with silver slides) Gillanders & McLeod pipes.  Please check my other auctions if you think these pipes might be more to your liking.   Place a Bid!