Well, I take what I can when I can. Robert Thomson resided in West Kilbride and later in Leicester, England and apparently learned reed making from his father. By 1952 he was selling reeds commercially and had developed his own chanter. The chanter shown originally came out of Syracuse NY and is now in Ontario. According to Jeannie Campbell's book, there is another chanter in Australia. I recently received an email (below) from a friend directing me to The National Museums Scotland website where tools owned by Robert Thomson are displayed.
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"I have atached the information slip he used to send out, listing the various combinations, goose chanter, mini drone, practice chanter etc. I have also attached the slip he included with some of his shipments. His address at the time was 39 Cardinal's Walk, Leicester, England. There is the additional comment "formerly of West Kilbride, Ayrshire, Scotland", indicating that he was previously known at that address. I also have an old, rather battered copy of the price list for the full pipes he made that includes the listing for "Silvertone" reeds and Thomson chanter reeds.
I have been unable to determine whether this is the same Robert Thomson who published a series of articles in the Piping Times (listed by volume and part, with pages). However, based on exchanges we had it was clear that he knew Seamus MacNeil
4/9
7-8 Reeds The Component Parts Robert Thomson
4/10
17-18 Reeds Physical Characteristics Robert Thomson
5/1
7-8 Reeds The Piper’s First Aid Kit : Reed Manipulation : Robert Thomson
5/4
6-7 Reeds Reed manipulation continued Robert Thomson
5/6
16-17 Reeds More about Resistance Robert Thomson
5/9
7 Reeds Choosing a new reed Robert Thomson
5/11
6 Reeds Choosing a new reed continued Robert Thomson
6/2
23 Reeds Practice Chanter Reeds Robert Thomson
6/7
21 Reeds Instruction in Reeds a necessity Robert Thomson
Based on the fact that the first issue of the Piping Times was published in 1948 these articles would have been published in the 1950s."
I have been unable to determine whether this is the same Robert Thomson who published a series of articles in the Piping Times (listed by volume and part, with pages). However, based on exchanges we had it was clear that he knew Seamus MacNeil
4/9
7-8 Reeds The Component Parts Robert Thomson
4/10
17-18 Reeds Physical Characteristics Robert Thomson
5/1
7-8 Reeds The Piper’s First Aid Kit : Reed Manipulation : Robert Thomson
5/4
6-7 Reeds Reed manipulation continued Robert Thomson
5/6
16-17 Reeds More about Resistance Robert Thomson
5/9
7 Reeds Choosing a new reed Robert Thomson
5/11
6 Reeds Choosing a new reed continued Robert Thomson
6/2
23 Reeds Practice Chanter Reeds Robert Thomson
6/7
21 Reeds Instruction in Reeds a necessity Robert Thomson
Based on the fact that the first issue of the Piping Times was published in 1948 these articles would have been published in the 1950s."
Robert Thomson