Repairs & Restorations   Making a decision about where to send your instrument for repairs is no easy task. Whether you own a priceless vintage bagpipe from the 19th century or a set made last year, you want to be sure that your instrument is going to get nothing less than the finest care from a skilled master craftsman. Just seventy-five years ago all bagpipes were made by hand. The makers had a certain standard of quality and the customers buying the bagpipes had certain expectations. That has all changed. There’s been a steady decline in both the quality of the instruments being made as well as the average “knowledge” of the consumer. This has led to confusion in the marketplace in terms of what exactly is “skill”, “knowledge” and “craftsmanship”. I strongly suggest that consumers in need of repairs to their instruments do extensive research before they choose a firm, or person, to do the work. The bottom line here is that there are very, very few true professionals in the bagpipe repair business. During my 12 year tenure at C.E. Kron & Co., I gained a worldwide reputation as an expert repairman. I’ve worked extensively on nearly every maker’s bagpipes from virtually every era. Whether you need an exact duplicate of an original part, or need some basic maintenance, such as reaming the tuning chambers, I can do the job. My list of satisfied customers includes some of the top names in North American solo piping, Grade One band members, as well as hundreds and hundreds of pipers in the U.S. I will be happy to provide a list of references if requested. D.M. Atherton Bagpipes www.dmatherton.com