Some recent comments provoked this post.
Most pipemakers have some form of internet… e-mail, website, or the ability to surf the internet. Many lurk this C&F message board. Since it’s very time consuming to maintain a website, post comments to a forum and answer e-mails, I can see why they all tend to keep a low profile.
I spoke to Brad Angus (on the phone) not long ago about internet. He has no computer and isn’t aware of how popular he has become due to internet… though it didn’t seem to phase him in the least
I asked how he usually gets requests for orders and he replied “They lick a stamp”
Simack’s website has been down for many months. The guy that hosted it was a friend who did the design. When I asked Ian if he was going to update it and go back online he mentioned he’s got a 2+ year backlog of work that comes from reputation and referral, so the website isn’t all that necessary. I guess that means no.
I’m curious. Who else doesn’t have (or need) a website??
Off the top of my head I would have this list:
Geoff Wooff
Alain Froment
Peter Hunter
Cillian Ó Briain
Dave Williams
That does sound correct. I think they enjoy the “real” communication afforded them by using a phone or writing real letters. And, they’re not inundated with email like the “connected” makers are.
Geoff is top in many people’s books for flat sets. His counterpart in the flute world, if you will, is arguably Pat Olwell. Pat’s got email but no website, and you end up doing a lot of dealing with Pat over the phone or by mail. Bryan Byrne also has no internet connection (that he admits to).
There is also Michael L. Hubbert in S. California who, already, doesn’t seem to need a website… word of mouth is taking care of things. Althought I am hosting a few pictures of his work on my website, he has some thoughts about setting up a site in the near future. Then again, perhaps not.
Patrick, with regards to your list, and nonwebsitepipemakers, I suspect most have email addresses. I sent a letter to Dave Williams 6 months ago, and he emailed me back. Peter Hunter has email also. The others’?
A website is not necessary, but it certainly is nice to see examples of the maker’s work and maybe hear soundclips. It is a good reference point for beginners. A Tionol is better. Yet, once a pipemaker gets above a 6 year waiting list, a website shouldn’t really be necessary anymore(?)
As remarked by Tony, Brad Angus doesn’t have a “webshite,” as we call it. This is my pun; I’m always ready with a good one. Such as: Brad received a rather voluminous chanter to reed that was built by Hughes & McLeod. Lots of volume, here. I suggested that a better name for their firm would’ve been Huge & McLoud…
I have been diddling about with ideas for a webshite for Brad for sometime, though, and am slowly figuring out web design, so keep an eye peeled. Watch for announcements, too.
