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Jack Dunbar apprenticed in Peter Henderson Bagpipes prior to WWII and went back to Henderson's after
the war. He made bagpipes for Hector Russell and for Piob Mhor Highland Industries prior to coming to
Canada in 1951. He settled in St. Catharines, Ontario and started doing bagpipe repairs for John Kirkwood,
who operated a bagpipe supplies business. John was also a member of the Clan MacFarland pipe band.
By 1985 Dunbar bagpipes had moved from Jacks residence to its own shop. Today, Dunbar is one of the
most respected names in the industry.
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African Blackwood with imitation ivory projecting mounts, rings, and bushings and nickel ferrules.
Dunbar bores are arguably the best in the industry. The consistency in their products is excellent.
They are "Henderson" in every way. Dunbar bagpipes are among the finest instruments on the market today.
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Jack made a few sets of bagpipes using impregnated maple. The set below was played by Iain Moir
for several years in the Ontario Grade 1 circuit.
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Jack was frustrated in the 1970's with the quality of African Blackwood that he was receiving. He set
out to find a suitable substitute and discovered Polypenco, a brand name for a plastic generically known
as Delrin. Bagpipes made of Delrin are superior to ABW bagpipes in many ways and considerably less fragile.
More and more they are winning converts at every level, from begining student to accomplished solo and
band competitors. Below are a few examples. Note the underbushings and how all fixtures are threaded
into place.
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The P1 is their budget model however it can be spruced up considerably with an upgrade of engraved stainless
or aluminum. All Dunbar bagpipes have the same Henderson bore. They sound and behave remarkably like
the Henderson bagpipes that Jack made prior to WWII..
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