Jeannie Campbell MBE published the first edition of Highland Bagpipe Makers in 2001 and it was written in response to the many requests received over the years for information on makers, as at that time there was very little available in print on the subject.
The book covered well known makers, plus others who were almost unknown. Dates and locations were given, with information on the people involved in each firm. There were biographical accounts of the famous pipers employed by or associated with the firms. Illustrations of instruments and their makers were included as were advertisements, price lists and catalogues showing the range of instruments available.
A second expanded edition followed in 2011 as in the intervening years more information had been discovered. It also included more information on the manufacture of bagpipes and the materials used.
More records and archives became available over the following years so a supplementary volume, More Highland Bagpipe Makers was published in 2017. This did not repeat anything which was in the second edition but contained additional information on some of the makers covered in the previous book plus information on several more makers which had not been included before.
Now, with all the previous books sold out the information has been combined into one volume, with some corrections and updates, some additional makers, more information on some of the makers covered previously and pictures in colour.
The book is available from the National Piping Centre shops and will soon be online here: https://www.thebagpipeshop.co.uk/
Other books also available by Jeannie is Pipe Bands and To the Make of a Piper. The Story of the College of Piping. And there is no stopping her, with her next book titled Piping Competitions being well underway.