More Thow bagpipes....

Again, we see very careful attention to detail and some pretty impressive "closed" ivory ferrules. I've seen this on a few Thow bagpipes but never on any other make. You're more likely to find Thow bagpipes with "normal" beaded ivory ferrules with scribe lines. Tuning chambers may or may not be lined.
Projecting mounts are all over the place. Cut beads, rounded beads, scalloped facing, plain facing.
Thow was pretty consistent with the scribe lines on the cord holders and the single bead on the bass above the cord holder. To my knowledge, Bert Gillanders was the only other maker to put that single bead on the bass. Why not? He worked for Thow Brothers before going out on his own. The proportions of ivory to wood to ivory are pretty distinctive and always a good clue.
Stocks always help. Thow stocks are straight-sided with a flat bottom... usually. No maker was 100% consistent all the time.
If you're looking at a Thow bagpipe, you're probably going to be impressed at the quality of manufacture and the attention to detail. They rank among the best.
So if you're looking at the bagpipe above, your eyes naturally go to the wide spaced cord holders. "MacDougall" you say...but wait. Scribe lines cut into the cord holders. Also closed ivory ferrules and a one-piece ivory cap. Yes, it's a Thow bagpipe. I've encountered three Thow bagpipes with the one-piece cap. These are made from marine ivory which, of course, was abundant in Dundee.
Beautiful silver and ivory Thow bagpipe below...and no scribe lines on the cord holders. You have to keep an open mind when looking at these old bagpipes. Add up the clues.
Very nice button mount Thow. It went out looking a bit prettier than when it arrived. Solid but not spectacular.
Thow Bagpipes