John Chisholm is listed in the Glasgow classified directory as a bagpipe maker in 1901. The listing changed to Chisholm and Hunter in 1912.
Hunter appeared earlier as dealing in antiques and musical instruments and many other items. It appears that the bagpipe business continued until about 1949.
According to one source who joined the Royal Scots as a band boy at age 15, "old time pipers played Chisholm pipes in the regiment band as they were the best."
I spent years searching for information on John Chisholm. Several months ago I purchased a bagpipe, pictured to the right and below, thinking that it was made by James Robertson. When it arrived the similarities were apparent, but it also departed considerably from Robertson bagpipes. I matched it up in pictures and measurements with an instrument that had been presented to me as "Chisholm". Following up on a lead, I was able to confirm that James Robertson (Edinburgh) indeed made bagpipes for Chisholm. This information came from George Kilgour through a very reliable source. George was, of course, a Master Turner inside the James Robertson bagpipe workshop.
To my eye, this catalin set lines up with the set above. I believe both to have come out of Robertson's shop for Chisholm. The full ivory set (far right) has similar characteristics as well.
Jame's Robertson's music book "Master Method for Highland Bagpipe" published in 1953 has a jig named Walking the Floor written by J. Chisholm.
I found this old picture (upper right hand corner) of Chisholm - Hunter's store at 27-29 Trongate, Glasgow. In 1901 the trade directories listed Chisholm as a bagpipe maker at this address and at 305, 309 Argyle Street. This was their store of "10,000 wonders" with a bagpipe hanging in the window. Previously he was identified in the directory as an acutioneer and later as a shopkeep, grocer, and wine merchant. John Chisholm was many things, but I suspect that he was not a bagpipe maker. I could be wrong.
Chisholm
