This is a list of bagpipe makers. It covers both family-based and commercial outfits from the 17th century to the present era. In the 1950s, the bagpipe traditions of Europe were revived. The market is increasing in size as the popularity of the instrument is increasing, and the list of bagpipe makers is rising.
British Isles pipes
Great Highland Bagpipes/Great Irish Warpipes
Firm Name Location Apprenticed Retired Notes Refs UnknownJames Ramsay OswaldMelbourne, Victoria, Australia 1941 2003 One of only ten bagpipe makers in Australia. The Advertiser, November 22, 2003 Dunbar Bagpipe Maker Ltd. Rick Pettigrew, Barry Dunbar, Jacquie DunbarSt. Catharines, Ontario, Canada Founded by Jack Dunbar of Glasgow in 1985 Dunbar Bagpipes, 2020 John Walsh Bagpipes Ltd. John Walsh, Tom MacMillanAntigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada John Walsh Bagpipes Ltd, 2020 The Burley Bagpipes Company Graham BurleyNaramata, British Columbia, Canada The Burley Bagpipes Company, 1996 Lee & Sons Bagpipes Jack Lee, Andrew LeeSurrey, British Columbia, Canada Lee & Sons Bagpipes, 2018Macbeth and Co. BagpipesMartin MacBethBrisbane, Australia1990sBegan in Brisbane 2010? Fisher BagpipesSarnia, Ontario, Canada Self-taught pipemaker. One of only a handful of bagpipe makers in Canada.The Observer, November 16, 2009. American Bagpipe Makers Inc. Dobbs Ferry, New York, US 1987? The New York Times, October 8, 1995; Westchester County Business Journal, September 29, 1997. Rolf of Sweden Sweden 1990s Custom made bagpipes: Great Highland Bagpipes, Smallpipes, Practice Chanters. Self-taught pipe maker. Hermansson, Mats d (2003). From Icon to Identity: Scottish Piping and Drumming in Scandinavia, University of Gothenburg, diss. William Sinclair and Son Edinburgh, Scotland 1926 The main source for this information is the history page of the William Sinclair and Son website. See also: The New York Times, September 15, 1980. MacLellan Bagpipes Zebulon, North Carolina, US 1988 Zebulon location began operations in 2023. The only business in North America to make, sell, and teach how to play bagpipes. McCallum Bagpipes Ltd.Kilmarnock, ScotlandO'Mahony WarpipesJames O'Mahony Cork, Ireland 1914? From Mitchelstown in Cork. Maker of Fiddles and Warpipes.Bureau of Military History: Seamus O'Mahony, witness statementO'Keeffe Warpipes O'KeeffeTippperary, Ireland1910Is said to have been one of the first makers of Warpipes in Ireland in the 20th century. Prior to that Warpipes weren't known to have been made since 1870. O'Crowley MusicTadhg & Denis CrowleyCork, Ireland 19201952 1966Brother's Tadhg and Denis Crowley made Warpipes, Highland Pipes, and Uilleann pipes in Cork. David Naill & Co., Ltd.Leslie CowellSomerset, EnglandFounded 1976. Makers of Scottish Bagpipes, Smallpipes & chanters.Peter Henderson Ltd.Peter HendersonGlasgow, Scotland18681972One of the famous Scottish bagpipe makers. Merged with R. G. Hardie & Co. in 1972. R. G. Hardie & Co.Robert G. HardieGlasgow, Scotland1950
Uilleann pipes
Firm Name Location Apprenticed Retired Notes Refs Unknown Philadelphia, PA 1840-1872 1901 . The Burley Bagpipes Company Graham BurleyNaramata, British Columbia, Canada Unknown Philadelphia, PA 1840-1872 1902 Boston, Massachusetts 1910 1958 Leo Rowsome Bruce Childress Maine
Scottish smallpipes and borderpipes
Firm Name Location Apprenticed Retired Notes Refs Fisher Bagpipes Sarnia, ON Self-taught pipemaker. Hamish Moore DunkeldX Fin Moore DunkeldSmallpipes, Borderpipes and BagpipesFred Morrison Smallpipes Smallpipes and Borderpipes manufactured by McCallum Bagpipes Ltd The Burley Bagpipes Company Graham BurleyNaramata, British Columbia, Canada John Walsh Bagpipes Ltd. John Walsh Antigonish, NS Smallpipes, Great Highland Pipes, and Shuttlepipes. Iona BagpipesBill HartSydney, AustraliaSmallpipes, Scottish Double Smallpipes
Northumbrian pipes
Name Firm Location Apprenticed Retired Notes Refs Newcastle upon Tyne 1764 1820 Developed keywork for the Northumbrian smallpipe around 1800 England 1877 1955 Wideopen, North Tyneside 1904 1978 Newcastle upon Tyne 1786 1837 Newsham 1881 1964 United KingdomWilliam H. Hedworth1994
Lincolnshire bagpipes
Name Firm Location Apprenticed Retired Notes Refs South Somercotes, Lincolnshire . Sunday Telegraph, 1 January 2010
Cornish bagpipes
Name Firm Location Apprenticed Retired Notes Refs . Peebles
Shuttle pipes
Firm Name Location Apprenticed Retired Notes Refs John Walsh Bagpipes Ltd. John Walsh, Tom MacMillanAntigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada
Continental European pipes
Armenian bagpipes
Name Firm Location Apprenticed Retired Notes Refs
Estonian bagpipes (torupill)
Name Firm Location Apprenticed Retired Notes Refs Estonia
French and German pipes
Greek Bagpipes
Name Firm Location Apprenticed Retired Notes Refs La Ponta Venetian Tower Greek bagpipe exhibition-workshop January/February 2013 issue of Songlines (#89) article:Postcard from Santorini
Swedish bagpipes (säckpipa)
Name Firm Location Apprenticed Retired Notes Refs Sweden Sweden
Sources
Bibliography
News articles
Online resources
References