Hello, I’m new at the forum. I have some pictures of a set of uilleann pipes that I 'd like to show you all.
This is the way I received them from an old lady who have them in her appartment for a long time. Nearly fifty years.
I´m sorry for the out of focus pictures, my camera is not working properly.
I´d appreciate your opinion about this.
Thank you,
Brian.
Brian,
I think that some features of a pipemaker (e. g. number, sequel and depth of ornamental-rings, key-shape and making, key-block-shape and making, general workmanship) remain more permanent. Once you got an idea, you just have to compare the set in question with a “defined” set with a particular focus on these features. It goes without saying that also you need some good close-up shots. It is but fairly easy in this case: It is a William Rowsome. Compare:
Don´t look for a stampmark on the chanter. AFAIK, Willie stamped his products he did the mainstock (and sometimes the bellows, too).
Cheers,
Hans
Heres another shot of a William Rowsome set (or maybe the same one)
RORY
Hi Brian,
Can you tell us where the pipes spent the last 50 years (Ireland, US, UK, etc)?
Do you know what pitch the set is in?
The F natural “ring” key is not something that all makers would offer and might allow you to eliminate some names. Also, the touches of the regulator keys are relatively slender and the tapering of the drones might also eliminate some makers.
My initial guess would be Rowsome, either Willie or Leo.
It might be worth mentsioning that it is well known among pipers that Willie Rowsome pipes are not really sought after and never achieve a good price, and seeing that there is a few bits missing of the pipes you have ,I’m sure this would again be the case .
But I like collecting old junk pipes,so being a generous type I’d give a 100 euro for them.If you PM me and tell me where in the world you are I’ll come and collect them immediately.
I would just like to add,it would be better if you didn’t discuss this kind offer with anyone else as they would probably tell you that I am trying to rip you off.
RORY
I’d say a fair bit of restoration work is needed on this set to make it playable. Bass resonator, and a number of ferrules are missing, plus im sure the keys would need re-padding and springs just to name a few things…
Could make a nice project for someone with the time and inclination.
… and, hopefully, with the knowledge and experience required for restoring a historical instrument.
Brian,
Those photos are too blurry to make a reasonable assessment.
Rory left something off his post. Should read:
[tongue in cheek]It might be worth mentsioning that it is well known among pipers that Willie Rowsome pipes are not really sought after and never achieve a good price, and seeing that there is a few bits missing of the pipes you have ,I’m sure this would again be the case .
But I like collecting old junk pipes,so being a generous type I’d give a 100 euro for them.If you PM me and tell me where in the world you are I’ll come and collect them immediately.
I would just like to add,it would be better if you didn’t discuss this kind offer with anyone else as they would probably tell you that I am trying to rip you off.[/tongue in cheek]
Tommykleen
Bill is correct, but it’s fair to say even from those photos that you’re going to need to find a fair whack of cash to get them playing. Don’t blow down them by the way, if you don’t already know that!
I’ll pay $200 then!
There have been two Willie sets 'round these parts that have been made brilliant by a (or should I say THE) authority on Willie Rousome instruments/restorations. It can be done…and well.
It would be great to see this beauty get back in the game.
tk
I have seen Willie Chanters stamped and unstamped. The stamped one had, “W Rousome”.
Hello All,
Thank you for responding,
The pipes are not for sale, I have also a full set from Hubert Kwistout, and a Seth Gallagher practice set.
I was told by the pipe maker (in Ireland) who has them for restoration that this was made by William Rowsome. He is 100 % sure. But, as you can see, their have no stamp on them, that’s why I was looking for more information.
I’m from Argentina so I can’t take more pictures, and the story of this pipes is more or less as follows:
There is a quite large community of irish descendant here, nearly 500.000 argentinians are (mixed or pure) descendant.
The irish come between 1850 and 1890, and they become farmers, make lots of many, and a few returned to Ireland, but the majority stayed here.
I received the pipes from an old lady that knows that I play the uilleann pipes, an leave them in the Southern Cross (irish community newspaper here) for me to pick them up.
I call her, and ask them what she knew about. His father (Farrell) was an accordion player, and received the uilleann pipes from a priest in Mercedes (Father Leahy), (150 kms. from Buenos Aires city), where there are many irish. He never played the pipes, the reed of the chanter was missing, but I’m using a tenor reed in my kwistout set. (90 years old and working perfectly well!!)
I ask for this Father Leahy, but apperantly he was not a musician, so I can suspect than someone could donate the instrument to the local church to be in useable hands. The pipes were made in 1919, there is a coin in the drone stopping valve from that year. This Farrell received them in 1940 approximately, and they stayed in their farm (without playing).
I was told that the children played with them! ( I suposed as a machine gun!! ahhhgh! ) That explains the missing parts, and the sad state of them.
So, this lady take them to her apartment. After her husband past away, he was cleaning an she was just to throw them away, but thanks god this pipes passed to useable hands again.
I will post soon a picture of the tenor reed for you to see it,
Regards to all,
Brian.
Hi Brian, good to see you around here!!! well, so the pipes are far away I`d like to take a look at them. Where did you leave them? I mean in whose hands?
Well good luck with it.
I love hearing stories like that. Congradulations on finding the pipes and I hope that they get restored to their full former glory and that you have many years of enjoyment playing them.
Here are the pictures of the tenor reed I promised.
Regards!
Obviously, elder is a good and lasting material for reeds!
these stories are precious!
old pipes are almost on the brink of being tossed out , like so many empty sardine cans..
What ever happened with this thread/the pipes? How many uilleann pipers are in Argentina apprx. and which city?