According to Jeannie Campbell, John MacColl was appointed manager of the bagpipe department in 1908 and retired from the company around 1935. Robert Reid was employed at Lawrie’s until 1932 when he left to start his own bagpipe making business. MacColl’s successor was Donald MacDougall. An article in the Oban Times in 1938 claimed that MacDougall had been manager of the bagpipe department for 26 years (or since 1912). In 1941 Dugall MacColl claimed to be foreman and in 1946 Albert Sheath was named Manager. Sheath had worked his way up through the shop. Put all this confusion aside and it’s obvious that a great many talented people were employed by Lawrie up until WWII. This period, from around 1910 to the mid 1930’s saw Lawrie produce some of the best instruments we know. This is not dissimilar to what was happening at rival company Peter Henderson Ltd. The second World War had a profound impact on both companies, from which neither company fully recovered.
This first picture, with the pipes on the right shoulder, was found on Ebay. After wracking our brains for a few days, I took the image into Photoshop and flipped it horizontally. Definitely John MacColl. Some months later (maybe years later) this colorized glass plate surfaced. I was able to secure this and was pleased to pass it along to Angus MacColl. Simply put, it belonged in the family.
Below is an outstanding set of late WWI Lawrie bagpipe in ebony, ivory, and engraved nickel. Note the tapered nickel ferrules. These instruments are highly regarded for their musicality and steadiness.
