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John Adamson immigrated to Boston around 1905 and opened a bagpipe importing and repair business. The
documentation below confirms that he was in business at least until May 1941 however he is believed to
have closed the business shortly thereafter.
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Mr. John Adamson of Puyallup, Wa. wrote me of his grandfather "John Adamson was born in Dumfermline,
Scotland as one of 16 children. He emigrated with his parents to the United States. He had many jobs,
beginning in the coal mines, which his family had done in Scotland, as a grocer, a newspaper editor/publisher
in Boston, and finally as a bagpipe manufacturer. All of this with a 5th grade education! He always
worked alone to produce the finest pipes.
My father learned both how to make bagpipes and piping
from grandpa. Dad spent the rest of his life with pipe bands, beginning with playing the pipes when
he was 4 and leading his first band when he was 11.
Grandpa made pipes in the USA for more
than 50 years. His customers were across the US and Canada. When I was getting married in Billings,
Montana, one of his very old customers (who had started buying his pipes from grandpa around the 1920s),
William Flockart, played at our wedding.
The Boston Globe did a piece on him in 1952. For
50 years grandpa was the only bagpipe maker in the U.S.
In addition to making pipes, grandpa
(and later Dad took over the business) also imported all things Scottish, from highland kilts and dress
to pipes."
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The Adamson bagpipes I have seen and played have square, bulky features with chrome fixtures. The caps
are one piece. Projecting mounts are either chrome, wood, or catalin. I've had the pleasure of playing
sets of Adamson bagpipes. I would describe them as solid but not spectacular.
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