The Belfast Penny-Chanter

Table of Dimensions

Copyright 1997 David C. Daye, all text, image and sound files presented here.

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This is the Penny-Chanter sent for trial at the Tionols in Germany and Belfast in early 1997, also played by the group lesson instructor at Na Piobairi Uilleann.

Although the chanter was patterned from the 1984 David Quinn "O'Flynn Leo Rowsome" chanter there are certain variations I made in order to have the best working chanter to demonstrate to experienced pipers. I do not yet fully understand the differences between Penny- and regular chanters!

Important Update March 1998

Well there is a good reason that I did not fully understand the differences! There were measurement errors in constructing this particular prototype and I have recently discovered that in fact the "Belfast" is much closer to a Taylor chanter rather than the Rowsome type! The bore is significantly wider all along, but follows the general taper, including most of the variations in taper, of a certain Taylor chanter. Taylor chanters are not identical and tend to vary quite a bit from one specimen to the next.

I have revisited this pattern for more testing toward the possibility of evolving it into a new production type chanter using my PVC plastic exterior.


Chart of Measurements

Finger or tone hole diameters adjusted to account for tuning tape applied by pipers who handled the chanter.
Length over all: 360 mm.
Chanter reed crow pitch: between high F# and high G, about the same for all 3 reeds sent along. All reeds used the David Quinn design.

Main Bore Tubing
Tubing inner
diameter (inches)
Distance of bottom
from bottom (mm)
9/32" 255
5/16" 216
11/32" 185
3/8" 145
13/32" 105
7/16" 77
15/32" 43.5
1/2" 20
17/32" 0
Tone Holes, Throat
Name Inner
diameter
(inches)
Distance from
bottom (mm)
Chanter outside
diameter
(inches)
Throat 3/16" 340 3/8"
D .20" 265.5 15/32"
C .22" 248 .57"
B .24" 220 .57"
A .26" 184 .57"
G .23" 149 .655"
F# .285" 111 .655"
E .205" 84 .71"
E- .26" 55 .71"

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