Henry Starck made exquisite bagpipes. Their motto was "Only the best is good enough" and this is reflected
in the detail of Starck bagpipes. The attention to detail was simply exceptional. Ferrules were scored
on the inside to help hold them in place. I suspect that they were scored, heated, fitted, and cooled.
Note the small wood bead just above and below the ferrules.
Starck, a flute maker, was persuaded
to make bagpipes by William Ross, when he was piper to Queen Victoria in the 1880's. Starck bagpipes
went out of business in 1962.
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Full ivory with blackwood bushings
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Wood button mounts with catalin rings & bushings
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Starck used absolutely terrible nickel for their ferrules.
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wood button mounts with ivory rings and bushings
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Despite some differences I believe that this bagpipe is also Starck made. Of course, the beading and
combing is pretty distinctive. Also, note how the stocks flare out toward the bottom. Lastly, look
at the metal hemp stop. There's a better picture of this feature further down.
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Starck also invented and patented the Brian Boru Bagpipe, shown below. This bagpipe had tenor A, baritone
E, and bass A drones and a keyed chanter. It was available in either the Highland style with separate
stocks or with a common stock for "a much fuller and more perfect tone" . The chanter was keyed to allow
a scale 1/3 above and 1/3 below the GHB chanter.
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Starck made bagpipes for the Irish Army with only one tenor and a bass.
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This picture pretty much says it all about Starck bagpipes. The beads were generally very deeply cut
and perfectly rounded. Small details are evident everywhere.
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Take a look at the picture below. Nickel or German Silver projecting mounts, tuning slides and hemp
stops! Now I've never seen anything like this before. See how Starck cut into the pin to accommodate
the crimp in the nickel? Very unusual.
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