I never new Bill Hedworth, but the notion that he would buy anything
which he could make himself seems a bit unlikely.
Bill's cases are sturdy and long-lasting in our British climate,
however, I don't think they would respond well to modern baggage
handling methods. The main section has a softwood lip round the opening
which I think adds to the strength.
The only real problem is that they are rather small and if the piper
wants an alternative chanter or different bellows, packing the case can
be a problem. On the other hand there isn't much room for the pipes to
move inside the case which keeps them a lot safer.
Barry Say
colin wrote:
Mine came with my pipes from Bill Hedworth and is plywood covered with
green leatherette with metal corners. Mine's still fine and now in
it's 36th year (made 1974 or thereabouts) although the leatherette has
lifted on few corners over that time (easy to glue down again). It's
been through the post a couple of times as well without problems
(chanters and drones wrapped in bits of silk shirt - bought for 50p
in a charity shop and contained in stout cardboard tubes).
I have no idea if he made it himself or if he bought it somewhere.
It'll outlast me :-)
Colin Hill
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