Some pipemakers seem to have been around forever. The likes of David Quinn ,Geoff Wooff,Alain Froment,Alan Ginsberg and Charles Roberts have certainly been making pipes a long time. But who has been making them the longest ?
RORY
PS I mean someone who is still making pipes
I remember hearing of somebody making a G chanter. I guess that would be the longest.
djm
I’ve heard that Edna Parker was making pipes, or maybe it was pies?
/MarcusR
Alan Ginsberg has been making pipes for over 35 years. David Quinn has been at at about 30 years, longer if you count NSP. Fromont, about 25 years and Wooff about 23, if memory serves me right. I am not sure about Roberts, but I think he started on NSP as well, but has not been around as long as Geoff. Peter Hunter certainly goes back aways and Pat Sky has been at it, off and on for over 30 years, I think. I am certain to be challenged about all this, but my memory is fading with age.
you guys rule..
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First time I met D. Quinn was in 1980, he said at that time he had made 78 sets.
The first Wooff set I played was Ronnie’s, in 1983, Geoff had been at it then for five or six years (remember the silver anniversary set? That was for 25 years in pipemaking). Alain was exhibiting his first sets at WCSS around 84 (give or take a year). Eugene Lambe was set up by the second half of the 70s.
Multiple posting
multiple posting after getting error messages
Alan Ginsberg was learning frae Matt Kiernan in '72 I think and Brian Howard was making sets in the 70s as well(I think)cos he got a medal for it back then.So that probably puts Alan Ginsberg as the longest making living pipemaker.(I think)I am not sure when Pat McNulty made his pipes I will see him tonight and ask him.(I think) I am doing a lot o thinking these days 
Slán Go Foill
Uilliam
Mick Dooley is another pipemaker in the thirty year club.He has been making pipes since 1976 !
RORY
PS Peter, I really enjoyed the programme on Kitty Hayes the other night,she is a charming woman. You shoud have told us you were in it, as I’m sure many on the forum would have enjoyed it .
I’d have to think Robbie Hughes has been doing it for a while as well. Mid 70’s I think.
Welcome back, Peter.
Chris Bayley has now been making for 33 years; having started in 1975. Curiously enough I saw the first full set he made in 1975, only last year; a four reg Taylor style set in blackwood and brass, still looking and sounding good.
Although he started out making NSPs I believe Ray Sloan has been at it for quite a while as well.
tim britton is in the 30 year plan. or very close to it.
pretty sure I recall Tim(Mr. Britton) saying he’d built his first set in high school woodshop(the set he was playing at that time and perhaps yet)-and as his age is the same as mine,and I graduated in’79…since 1975-9?of course this could just be an apocryphal gas of my imagination.wub