251 - H.Robertson

GHB ca. 1790-1800, possibly Hugh Robertson or related, probably anterior to the 1802 prize pipe. Differences with this authentic H.R. set include the moulding of the button mounts, of an older style yet unrelated to the later projecting mounts, the ten-teeth combing (against 6-7 for the 1802 HR’s) and the straight tuning chambers (slightly tapered on HR and other pipes of a similar date).

Two parallel holes in the lower bass drone section, drilled carefully and symmetrically on either side into the hardwood/sapwood limit, are very old and could be original. They could have held a shield of some kind, as in the case of the prize pipes.

Wood: “cocuswood” of some kind, probably African and not Caribbean, very yellow sapwood and blackish brown heartwood.

Mounts on drones: bone button mounts and ferrules throughout – two original ferrules left, the others are ancient ivory replacements. All button mounts original, lower mount of outer tenor cracked and girdled with copper wire, greenish oxidation. Bells fitted with ivory rings and bushings (bass bushing replaced)

Mount on original blowpipe: translucent horn, probably authentic, matching exactly the style and shape of the bone mounts on drones.

Stocks: exactly the same wood, but either crudely re-combed or antique replacements. Horn ferrules, except chanter stock fitted with a very old oversized ivory ferrule. Two horn ferrules (tenor and blowpipe stocks) match exactly the style of the drone ferrules: double thread and slight recess/step at the joint with the wood.

Combing: all the original parts have 10 teeth and rather tiny beads. Hand carved but very regular. Combing on stocks irregular and crude, obviously re-turned in places (outer tenor stock: 9-10; inner: 8; bass: 8; blowpipe: 9; chanter: 7-9)

Quality: the wood and the fittings are very well turned, with a certain sense of detail.

Measurements (metric in mm):

Tenor tops:

Bell, exterior diameter: 45.2/45.0
bushing: 14.9/14.9
diameter at tuning ch.: 30.3/29.6
bore of t.ch. 17.7/17.7
depth: 91/87
overall length: 202/202

Tenor bottoms:

length stock to top: 199/200
lenth tuning pin: 78.5/80
diameter t.p.: 17.0/17.1
bore at t.p.: 8.5/8.8
bore at reed seat: 8.9/8.9
stock tenon, diameter: 20.5/20.6
stock tenon, length: 30.0/29

Bass top:

Bell, exterior diameter: 51.2
bushing: not original
diameter at t.ch.: 3.12
bore of t.ch.: 18.4
depth: 95
overall length: 280

Bass middle section:

tuning pin, exterior diameter: 17.8
t.p., interior diam. (bore): 9.7
t.p., length: 87
ext. diam. at t.ch.: 31.5
int. diam. at t.ch.: 18.8
depth: 97
overall length: 281

Bass bottom:

Length stock to top of t.p.: 254
t.p., interior diam. (bore): 8.7
t.p., exterior diam.: 18.2
t.p., length: 88
stock tenon, ext. diam.: 20.6
stock tenon, bore (enlarged?): 10.4
stock tenon, length: 31

Blowpipe:

Length tenons not included: 132 (shortened at top end ?)
stock tenon, ext. diam.: 26
stock tenon, bore: 84