Selling for an elderly friend who has retired from playing. Mark Hillman of Silver Spring, MD, a noted builder and teacher wrote an appraisal in 2017 for each set we are selling.
A full set of Uilleann pipes made by pioneering American uilleann pipe maker David M. Quinn in the Key of C. incorporating his superbly executed signature turnings. This set was commissioned upon the return of Quinn from Asia to the U.S. around the turn of the 20th century. Purchased virtually new in 1999 it has Serial #9901 on stock. 5-key chanter with horn mounts, brass keys, and brass reed cap. Pipes and mainstock are of perfectly matched, straight-grained medium-dense cocobolo wood with no evidence of pin Knots or other imperfections of any kind. The timber is immaculately polished and beautifully trimmed in premium Asian river water buffalo horn sourced from that which Quinn brought when he moved back to the U.S. Natural horn fittings are predominately black with the occasional streak of mocha and amber. Brass ferrules throughout. The drones are fashioned with hand-soldered, tapered drone slide ferrules, with no evidence of cracking at the wood lined mortice ends. The bass drone features a cannister type loop, and is on the “straight out” variety, accented proportionally to the tenor and baritone drones in natural horn terminuses. Of special note is the bass regulator extension which incorporates a back-turned bass regulator reed cap for comfort and ease of play. Regulator keys are of the standard teardrop salt spoon style in neatly turned wood blocks. Springs are perfectly matched and firm, key travel is optimal, lateral play is minimal, and the geometry feels quite smooth overall, with no annoying high or low keys, and excellent availability of individual key touches. Natural horn fittings are found on individual pipes at the tenon ends at the main stock. The transverse drone stop switch is in perfect order and easily accessible. Padded bellows are of fine straight grain spruce or similar variety soft wood with an unusual asymmetrical or paisley shaped clapper design, featuring a hinge swooping higher to more closely follow the ergonomic movement of the players shoulder and to avoid interference of the bellows hinge with the main body of pipes. Yellow leather lined bellows are slightly stained, with water buffalo horn valve, and are the original bellows with this set of pipes. A large bag with matching fitments is airtight. This set has a light feel, a soft tone, and is relatively easy to blow. No major leaking or damage. Slight oxidation as the set has been in use for many years, yet it has minimal wear and an honest patina. Overall, this is an exquisite example of the pipe maker’s art by one of the foremost turners in the history of Uillean pipe making, and it exemplifies the confidence and long honed skills of a master craftsman at the height of his career. Still contains some original and stable reeds by Benedict Koehler, as well as a four year old Bigley chanter reed and two register reeds. The instrument was always played in a smoke-free environment. The set includes a professional grade aluminum musical instrument carrying case.
