Robert MacKinnon was first listed as a bagpipe maker in 1875 at 3 Brown Street, Glasgow (which was also his home address). In 1880 he is listed at 12 Royal Arcade, only a couple of doors down from Peter Henderson at 17 Royal Arcade, which, by the way, was the premises of Donald MacPhee until his death in 1880. Robert not only made bagpipes but he also published a tutor and collection of tunes.
Interestingly, he also "finished" bagpipes for Alexander MacArthur, who is found elsewhere in this museum. If you study the images of the MacArthur bagpipes, you will see strong and striking similarities between MacKinnon and MacArthur bagpipes.
Interestingly, he also "finished" bagpipes for Alexander MacArthur, who is found elsewhere in this museum. If you study the images of the MacArthur bagpipes, you will see strong and striking similarities between MacKinnon and MacArthur bagpipes.
I'm often asked what I see in a set of pipes and how I'm able to "connect" them to other sets. The owner of this set was told they might be this or that. Of course, the chanter was a pretty good clue in this instance however if you look deeper into the set you'll see why I was able to connect it to MacArthur and therefore assure the owner that it is, in fact, likely a MacKinnon bagpipe
1. The wood under the ferrules is very thin - consistent with MacArthur
2. The proportions of ring-wood-bushing leaves very thin wood - consistent with MacArthur
3. The profile of the projecting mounts - very flat top with a wide cut-in - consistent with MacArthur
4. The profile of the "fountain" north of the cord holders - consistent with MacArthur
There are other details that aren't consistent with MacArthur but when you add up these clues and you provide for MacKinnon "finishing" MacArthur's bagpipes, there's a pretty good chance that this is a Robert MacKinnon bagpipe.
1. The wood under the ferrules is very thin - consistent with MacArthur
2. The proportions of ring-wood-bushing leaves very thin wood - consistent with MacArthur
3. The profile of the projecting mounts - very flat top with a wide cut-in - consistent with MacArthur
4. The profile of the "fountain" north of the cord holders - consistent with MacArthur
There are other details that aren't consistent with MacArthur but when you add up these clues and you provide for MacKinnon "finishing" MacArthur's bagpipes, there's a pretty good chance that this is a Robert MacKinnon bagpipe.
Robert MacKinnon 1875 - 1902
