1950s Vintage HENDERSON Thistle Silver Scottish Bagpipe Start Price GBP 3,500.00 Current Price GBP 3,500.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Friday, August 15, 2008 End Time Monday, August 25, 2008 Location Northern Ireland See more about '1950s Vintage HENDERSON Thistle Silver Scottish Bagpipe' 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 Peter Henderson bagpipes from their combing, known history and markings.  These pipes are marked, "P.Henderson" in the cord guides.  These pipes are known to be of early 1950s vintage, are made of African blackwood, and have hand-engraved, "Thistle" pattern, Hallmarked Sterling silver ferrules, slides, ringcaps, and mouthtube together with genuine ivory projecting mounts, hemp retainers, bushes and mouthpiece bulb.      These pipes are in absolutely immaculate condition, having undergone a full cosmetic refurbishment, and are free from any defects, warps or cracks in either the African 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 only flaw I can find on these pipes is a single age line in one of the genuine ivory projecting mounts.  A photograph of this is immediately below.  Minor flaws like this are only to be expected on nearly 60 year old vintage ivory!     These pipes are completely original but have had the Hallmarked Sterling silver mounts added.  The Hallmarks on these pipes are for Edinburgh and bear the sponsor's mark, "PH" together with the date letter for, "2008".  (Every individual ringcap, slide, ferrule and, the mouthtube, are individually Hallmarked.)    These pipes have been played for the last 15 months (before having the silver added) by a friend of mine who competes in Grade 1.  As such you are guaranteed these pipes have been well looked after and regularly played!  Any problems with the vintage blackwood would have obviously been discovered in this time.  Obviously, there were none! All in all this is an excellent vintage pipe with the quality of tone that can only come from an aged set of Peter Henderson pipes! The tone of these pipes can only be described as "Outstanding!" In terms of professional finish, condition and tone, you will  be hard pushed to find a better set of vintage pipes currently available for sale!  (Unless you are checking my other eBay auctions of course!)     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 Peter Henderson instrument] retails at £3,525.00 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 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 1950s, 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 2 vintage Peter Henderson sets of pipes I currently have listed, the other set being mounted with a different pattern of hand-engraved Sterling silver and genuine ivory.  Please check my other auctions if you think these pipes might be more to your liking cosmetically.  (In terms of tone, both of these sets of pipes are exceptional.)   Place a Bid!