Quite apart from the amazing sound that bagpipes generate, they are fascinating objects in and of themselves.  Bagpipe makers are both artists and craftspeople, the best of whom turn raw materials into things of beauty and elegance.

The link below is to a Photobucket image sharing site with a series of photographs of some bellows blown bagpipes I have had access to. In particular, they represent contemporary makers for whom I have not found high resolution images available on the web. Great Highland Bagpipe maker Charley Kron, and later David Atherton, seem to have pioneered the idea of publishing truly detailed close up images of their work, so the details of their craftsmanship can be appreciated. A few bellows pipe makers, Nate Banton, Richard and Anita Evans and John Liestman come to mind, have followed suit.  In some cases there are no web sites, for example the great Northumbrian Pipe maker Colin Ross, or English pipe maker Jon Swayne.  In some other instances, the photographs on a maker’s website may not show enough detail for one to really be able to judge the workmanship.

I am not a professional photographer, nor am I asserting that all of the pipes in my gallery were made by the greatest living pipe makers (though some may well be).  I have simply made the gallery in the hope that curious pipers will enjoy looking at the images.  I plan to add additional sets as time and opportunity allow.

Each set is represented by a single image and description in the Alternative Pipes Album.  Associated sub-albums contain a number of additional images of each set.

Glenn Dreyer