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from 1860s |
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Trades |
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Some of the early professional photographers were also involved in other trades, but John Center is the only professional photographer I know of who also earned his living as a bagpipe maker. Today, his bagpipes are rather more sought after than his photos. |
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John Center first appeared in the Edinburgh trade directories in 1865. No occupation given. In later years, he was described as:
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Addresses |
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Addresses The photographic business ended around 1880. The bagpipe business continued.
Note 1: This was the address of a Bagpipe and Reed Manufacture Company business being run by John Center and his brother, William, in 1901. |
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Family Business |
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John's brother William may also have been involved in running the Bagpipe and Reed Manufacture Company at 64 Grove Street in 1901. The bagpipe shop was later taken over by James Robertson. |
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One of the workers in John Center's bagpipe business was Robert Gillanders. He later married John's eldest daughter, Jane Isabella (Jeanie Bella) in 1893. Descendants of Robert Gillanders went on to run a bagpipe-making business in Edinburgh, Gillanders & McLeod. Bob Gillanders, a one-time partner in the business died around early 1990s. He was a grandson of John Center's eldest daughter. |
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Emigration to Australia |
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John and most of his family emigrated to Australia in 1908, several years after the death of his wife, Jean, In Australia, John continued his bagpipe-making business. |
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Composer and Bagpipe Player |
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Bagpipe Tunes An Edinburgh Pipe Major once composed a bagpipe tune about John Center. Apparently John piped with such passion that his cap kept falling over his eyes. The tune composed about him had the title: 'Center's Bonnet' |
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The bagpipe tune Farewell to the Highlands was written by another member of the family, John Allan "Jack" Senter. |
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Thank you to Veronika Ihlenfeldt for details above. John Center was a brother of Veronika's great great grandmother. |
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Comment 1. John Center Bagpipes For Sale - 2003 |
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Two "handmade sets of John Center bagpipes" were auctioned on eBay, UK in 2003 by a seller in Perth, Western Australia. They were bought by one of the leading bagpipe players in the USA. For further details of this sale, including photographs of the bagpipes, please click on the link below: |
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Thank you to
Craig Kimberley McLernon, Perth, Western Australia |
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Comment 2. John Center Bagpipes Not For Sale - 2006 |
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Thank you to George Nisbet, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, Scotland for telling me, in February 2006, about another set of John Center bagpipes. This set is not for sale! George wrote: "I have a set of Center pipes, year of manufactured approx 1901. The name on the chanter is J Center & Son, Edinburgh. They are made from African Blackwood with ivory mounts. I had them valued last year for insurance purposes at approx. £3,700. I inherited these pipes from my dad who used to play with Pumpherston Pipe Band as a boy. He inherited them from his grandad (my great grandad) who also used to play. He lived in Dumfries. He bought the pipes new, approx. 1906ish. I myself play with the City of Brechin Pipe Band, so they're still singing!" |
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Acknowledgement: George Nisbet, Aberdeenshire, Scotland |
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Comment 3. John Center Bagpipes
Purchased |
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Neil Williams who wrote: |
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Question "I was hoping you might be able to help me with some information regarding Center Bagpipes. I purchased a set of bagpipes some 30 years ago from a farmer in Victoria, Australia who mentioned that they were Center bagpipes and approx 80 years old then. From memory, the makers name was on the bottom of one of the stocks. Without having to take the bag off the pipes, is there another way of knowing who made them? If you could put me in contact with someone who may be able to help it would be greatly appreciated. I found your history of John Center on the EdinPhoto web site to be very informative. Surprisingly, I also play Gillander and Mcleod bagpipes, not knowing that they were related." Neil Williams, Australia: January 22, 2011 |
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Reply 1 to Neil I don't know the answer to Neil's question above. Perhaps somebody else might be able to help him. If you'd like to send a reply to Neil, please email me, then I'll forward your reply to him. Thank you. Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: February 2, 2011 |
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Reply 2 to Neil Thank you to Kirstie Center who replied: "I can't give you any information to you about his question but if you may be able to get some help from Ron Bowen. He runs a website called The Bagpipe Place."
Kirstie Center, Yallourn North, Victoria, Australia: April 2, 2011 |
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Reply 3 to Neil Thank you to Kirstie Center who wrote again: "I've looked over a set of Center bagpipes and found a possible solution to Neil's problem, if he hasn't already found one. On this particular set, there is also a small inscription of 'Center' on the chanter. This was located at the top of the chanter (above the first pipe hole and where the chanter connects to the chanter stock). This is able to be seen even with the bag and cover on"
Kirstie Center, Yallourn North, Victoria, Australia:
May 18, 2011 |
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John Center and the Senter Family Most of the family were named Senter. John used the name Center. George was Center (marriage records), but Centre (christening records). |
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Family |
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Addresses |
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Cartes de Visite |
John Center By John Center: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 |
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Bagpipes |
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