Following the end of WWII Jack Dunbar, Thomas Liddell and John Maitland left Henderson Bagpipes. They first landed with Hector Russell, a relationship that last about one year. Russell ran into financial difficulties and Dunbar and others barely got out with their tools. In 1947 they formed Piobmor Highland Industries Ltd. (Glasgow) and operated as such until 1951.
During their time at Piobmor they made what was essentially a “Henderson” bagpipe. They were later joined by John Weatherstone and Robert (R.G.) Hardie. For a time they supplied bagpipes for Hugh MacPherson and those bagpipes were stamped as such. By 1951 disagreements within the group resulted in individuals going their separate ways. Jack left for Canada, where he worked as a machinist for General Motors in St. Catharines. He later went into partnership with Pipe Major Ken Eller to form Dunbar Eller Bagpipes. Ken left the partnership in the late 1980’s.
I had the pleasure to know Jack from 1987 until his death in 2002. He was generous with his time and money in supporting the art throughout Ontario and around the world. He was an excellent craftsman who held true to the Henderson bagpipe that he knew when first apprenticed at Henderson’s.
