Peter Henderson is known to have started his bagpipe making business in Glasgow in 1880. Early advertisements claim a beginning in 1868 and this is where the story becomes confusing. Jeannie Campbell covers the history and lineage of the Henderson bagpipe makers in great detail in her book, Highland Bagpipe Makers. She writes that, according to the 1901 census, Peter (age 49) had returned to Fife and was living as a farmer. At this point, I will refer the reader to the exhibit for Peter Henderson, Edinburgh.
We are certain that Peter took over Donald MacPhee’s premises in 1880, following MacPhee’s death. We also can confirm that internal dimensions of early Henderson bagpipes are identical to that of MacPhee bagpipes that I have documented. Exterior profiles are also very similar and only differ in terms of beading and combing. Although Peter is credited with being the first to use African Blackwood in the manufacture of his bagpipe, a MacPhee bagpipe was recently discovered to be made of ABW. Of course, given what we know, it is entirely possible that Henderson made some sets in the style of Donald MacPhee.
Early Henderson bagpipes may be found made from African Blackwood, Gaboon ebony, and cocuswood from the West Indies. Each has their unique and individual tonal qualities. The Henderson bagpipe is preferred by bands and solo players alike for its powerful rich sound.
As might be expected, the Henderson bagpipe changed over the years, both stylistically and tonally. Any assessment is, of course, subjective. It is generally accepted that the very earliest Henderson bagpipes were magnificent in every regard. Henderson lost many of their best turners during WWII. The quality of their instrument became inconsistent and did not compare to those Henderson bagpipes made prior to the war. It was not until the late 1960’s that a re-styled Henderson bagpipe emerged with the sound and performance to match their pre-war instrument. Sadly, many orders were also farmed out to other makers so that any post-war instrument must be approached with some caution. I’ll cover examples of this later.
Given the importance and interest in vintage Peter Henderson bagpipes, I have arranged exhibits as follows.
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