Interesting old kilted advert

**OC Richard** · 20th July 13, 08:11 PM

So... I was tossing a pile of old National Geographic Magazines into the recycling and what should I see but this advert on the back cover of the Sept 1988 issue

Who is this fellow? A model? Or perhaps an actual piper?

Cap badge appears to be that of The Lorne Scots (where is the crown?) but the tartan is wrong for that regiment.

No collar badges so unlikely to be military.

Pipe Major's insignia.

Quite odd, his sergeant's sash is gold!

Plaid is wrapped in a sloppy and unconvincing way.

Lovely pipes! Silver & ivory Robertsons- there's no mistaking that- far too valuable set for a photographer to have lying about as a prop. (BTW Robertsons were made 1908-1964.) The plain red fringe of the cover, and plain red cords, also indicate a civilian pipe band.

The belt hardware is very familiar... I have two sets of the crossbelt hardware

But I've not been able to locate the waistbelt buckle.

About the plaid brooch, this set I used to own had a similar one, similar but not identical (mine had thistles in every other panel)

**Father Bill** · 21st July 13, 03:47 AM

Well, your own analysis would lead me to believe that they just tossed together what they had available. Interesting picture & interesting puzzle too!

**OC Richard** · 21st July 13, 03:58 AM

Because of the very fine pipes, and he seems to know how to hold them (non-pipers always have them slip off their shoulder), and the nice kit, I'm led to think that he's an actual Pipe Major of a civilian pipe band in North America. Would be interesting to know what band.

So odd about the sash, made of worsted just like the British Army ones, but in "old gold" colour. Never seen a sergeant's sash in any colour other than scarlet.

And odd that the apparent Lorne Scots cap badge is missing the crown which usually appears at the top. Never seen one without the crown.

Here's a pile of them, all with the crown

http://www.google.com/search?q=lorne...w=1920&bih=955

**artificer** · 21st July 13, 05:52 AM

a reverse google search of the image reveals that the model is Pipe Major Greg O'Brien, of the Washington Scottish Pipe Band.

http://home.comcast.net/~washington_...s_True_McHugh/

http://www.pipemajorobrien.com/pics/Greg1.htm

Hope this helps.

ith:

**Riverkilt** · 21st July 13, 08:23 AM

Here's a lead. Since Eastman Kodak was headquartered in Rochester, N.Y. and they were in the photography business - likely they scored some local talent. The Rochester Scottish Pipes and Drums seems to sometimes wear the same tartan as the guy in the ad and in many of their pictures there are similarities. http://www.rspd.info/photos.html Something for the experts to examine and decide on.

**CDNSushi** · 21st July 13, 10:31 AM

I don't think it's odd at all. I know absolutely nothing about pipe bands, sashes, ranks, and insignias, but I DO know a lot about modelling, pro photography, and advertising.

I would suspect that they would have taken a real piper, from a real pipe band, with his own, real pipes, but changed certain elements to fit the Kodak company image. Kodak's corporate colors have always been red and gold. So they would try to enhance that by making as many elements of the photo to match their colour scheme. In addition to this, their biggest competitor at the time would have been Fujifilm, whose colours were green and silver, so they would have tried to minimize use of those colours as much as possible, so as to avoid evoking any thoughts or feelings about Fuji. Plus, they were advertising "Gold" film, so they would try to make as much as they can a gold color, without going overboard and making it look contrived. To my untrained eye, the gold sash looks good, and not at all out of place.

As for the "sloppiness" of the plaid, that was probably just the photographer arranging the model and the photo that way. Why? In his mind's eye, it looks better. He sees things from the artistic rather than the everything-squared-away, perfectly arranged, militaristic viewpoint. It makes the piper look less intimidating and more "real" than if it were "just-so."

Anyway, thanks for sharing that little piece of nostalgia. And thanks to those who actually found the background on the piper himself, and the band as well. :-)

**Father Bill** · 21st July 13, 02:40 PM

Kodak Gold also photographed reds and golds better than other colours. I loved the stuff and frankly miss using it.

**mookien** · 21st July 13, 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by artificer

a reverse google search of the image reveals that the model is Pipe Major Greg O'Brien, of the Washington Scottish Pipe Band. ...

Nice catch! Do you think you could do the same for my winning lottery ticket? I need to buy a couple castles in Scotland - one for me and one for Kyle.

**OC Richard** · 21st July 13, 06:43 PM

Originally Posted by artificer

a reverse google search of the image reveals that the model is Pipe Major Greg O'Brien, of the Washington Scottish Pipe Band.

http://home.comcast.net/~washington_...s_True_McHugh/

http://www.pipemajorobrien.com/pics/Greg1.htm

Hope this helps.

ith:

Cool! This indeed is the band, I see.

Interesting that they post a photo of one of their pipers also playing a lovely vintage Robertson set, this time full ivory. You can see the crossbelt hardware is the same as True MacHugh's

**artificer** · 22nd July 13, 07:01 PM

Originally Posted by mookien

Nice catch! Do you think you could do the same for my winning lottery ticket? I need to buy a couple castles in Scotland - one for me and one for Kyle.

Cheers! I've got you covered, mate. Right after I buy my private islands off Belize and in the Hebrides (and the plane to get me there).

Originally Posted by OC Richard

Cool! This indeed is the band, I see.

Interesting that they post a photo of one of their pipers also playing a lovely vintage Robertson set, this time full ivory. You can see the crossbelt hardware is the same as True MacHugh's

It's just a pity their website is such a shambles. I'd love to see more of their older pix.

ith: