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It is difficult to identify bagpipes without a maker's stamp being present or other compelling information
or documentation. Still, we are able to draw comparisons with known J & R Glen Bagpipes and follow them
down through the ages. I'll start with this image of a very early J & R Glen bagpipe that is stamped
just above the ferrule bead. Note the perfect beading and combing.
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This is an outstanding example of their work. The bagpipe is cocus wood with brass caps and ferrules
and horn projecting mounts. This bagpipe is likely ca 1890..
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This is quite interesting. The tenor bottoms had or have a partial brass sleeve insert. In the top
picture you can see how the bore was counter-bored to accommodate the insert. Of course, it loosened
and became lost over the years. In other examples of the Glen's work you can see where brass sleeves
(in tuning chambers) have been "keyed" to anchor them into place. In this particular set of bagpipes
the larger bores all showed the marks of the boring tool.
In the picture to the left (bottom)
you can see where the sleeve does not fully extend to the end of the tuning pin. It makes one wonder
why this is and if this was intended. Did Glen counter bore too deeply? Did the sleeve work it's way
lower than intended? Is the sleeve a replacement? Was the sleeve perhaps in two pieces and the end piece
worked it's way loose and became lost?
This type of "feature" (and others shown below) reflects
a "craftsman" mentality as opposed to the "production" bagpipes that we're so used to seeing. The Glens
built their reputation on the soft sweet sound of their bagpipes and on uncommon attention to detail
as we're seeing here.
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The Glen turners were craftsmen. Not only will you find exceptional beading and combing throughout,
you may find two-piece projecting mounts on some J & R Glen bagpipes. In the example pictured above
the threaded inside diameter is slightly different from piece to piece. You can see this by the threaded
tenon.
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This is an interesting example of a threaded bell sleeve and ring. Usually the bell is one piece.
In this instance an ebony sleeve was threaded into place, followed by the threaded ivory ring. You can
see that the outside diameter of the bell tenon is slightly different for the sleeve and the ivory ring.
The fit was perfect and invisible to the eye. Because of the significant additional work involved special
circumstances must have necessitated this sleeving.
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This is a very nice example of a 1920's vintage J & R Glen full ivory bagpipe. Some of these bagpipes
had "keyed" brass sleeved tuning chambers. The key "locked" the brass sleeve into place, preventing
it from moving within the chamber. It is unusual to find a sleeved example today that is free from cracks.
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