I found Norman during a business trip to Edmonton, Alberta one cold winter day in 1997. I had lived in Edmonton from 1980 to 1985 but knew nothing of him during those years. I didn’t really know what to expect and was humbled by his generosity and eagerness to show me his inventions. Norman made injection molded bagpipes and chanters. He was the first person I know that threaded reed seats. His drone reeds, which he made himself, were also threaded and screwed into place quite securely. I found buckets of parts waiting to be assembled. Norman would remove the flashing and any small remnants of excess material before bringing the parts together. He also made a vulcanized rubber pipe bag.
I recall a band in Ontario that had purchased a few of his chanters to try out. They experienced a few breaking right at the High A hole. Under x-ray examination they discovered that all the chanters had stress fractures around every note-hole. I don’t believe they moved past the trial stage.
I am happy to recognize and preserve his ingenuity with these words and pictures.
