Over the years I have encountered many bagpipes that were said to be “Henderson” that, sadly, were not. Some were made by others in a “Henderson” style and are quite convincing. Others are not. The maker’s stamp is not at all reliable in identifying Henderson bagpipes. We’ll get into that later. I knit together a wide range of clues and compare what I see with authenticated examples in my archives.
When trying to figure out a probable date of manufacture I go through the same process. Many owners would have you believe that their Henderson is “1880” or “pre-1900”. Truth be known, Henderson employed many turners over the years, each providing their own small “signatures” to their work, making both identifying and establishing a date a combination of “art and science”.
Many older bagpipes have been “restored” or exist with replacement parts today. This all adds to the challenge. In all instances throughout this museum every effort has been made to authenticate the maker and age. I consult regularly with others in order to ensure the most accurate information possible.
