There are currently 3 sets on ebay: Item number: 120631838677 Item number: 130443166587 Item number: 250710910716
if anyone is interested. I have no connection with, or interest in these auctions. I have not seen any of the sets and can offer no specific advice on them. In addition I know of 3 other playable sets for sale at present. One is a reconditioned Burleigh set which I have at home and am advertising for the owner who has upgraded. Contact me offlist for more details. The second is a set made by the late Patrick Manning ( a pupil of Colin Ross). It is currently with Colin and although I do have a description, which I can forward if wanted, it would probably be easier if prospective purchasers contacted Colin (who no longer reads this list) directly. The third is in the Tyneside area. It has a 7 key Reid chanter (Graham Wells knows of it), and Jack Armstrong bellows, but there seems to be a little confusion over the drones. The owner is convinced she has been told they are earlier than the chanter: Graham believes they are early C20, maker unknown (ie probably not Cocks, Clough or GG Armstrong) The set is open to best offers over 1000 UK pounds: contact me offlist for vendor's details. In addition I have been sent a partial set for assessment / to find a good home. It has a D pitch chanter, with 7 keys, which are very nicely made. It does not play, having shed several pads (for a start). It is paired with a four drone stock containing only two drones (the others are plugged), but these are F pitch, and would seem to have been made using a combination of Cocks & Bryan and Mike Nelson's plans, possibly by someone with experience of Irish pipes. The bag is very stiff, and large, and the bellows are very heavy, the cheeks in particular being very thick. The whole thing gives the impression odf some years neglect. The drone stock carries an inscription "Made for XXXXX (the owner, now deceased, whose niece sent them to me) by Soefirne". The chanter is also marked with the maker's name.I have showed it to Graham Wells briefly but he can shed no light on it, so if anyone recognise this maker's name and can provide clues / info, this would be gratefully received. I will reporting on its condition etc to the owner: it is, I fear, at best a "project". Any interest, feel free to get in touch with me. I hope all this is of use to someone. Julia To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
