History of the Williams Reed.

As most of you already know, due to a former employee who leased the business for a number of years, our reputation for reed production had been tarnished. After careful consideration we decided, as of July 2005, James Warnock Reedmaker will be trading as Williams Reeds. Despite numerous versions of the Warnock Reed still available on the market today, let us assure you, none of which are made by us, the orginal Warnock family founders.

As a result we, the 4th blood generation of the Warnock Family, have renamed the business to Williams Reeds, in respect of our father, William Warnock. We have taken this decision to distinguish ourselves from other companies, and hopefully you, the buying public, will continue to support us, as we believe we still offer the highest quality piping products available on the market today.

Warnock Pipe Reeds were first made in the year of 1965 by Joseph (Joe) Warnock. Joe was the first generation of Reed Makers and learnt his craft from a close friend in Scotland, Peter Bain. After a short period of time, Joe had perfected a set of tools. His skilled workmanship was in great demand, and within a couple of years the 'Warnock Reed' was 'the reed to have'.

At this time, chanters and reeds were not as well matched as they are today. Joe prided himself on being able to match individual reeds for piper's own chanters. Joe looked on this as a challenge and would have spent many longer hours adapting his primitive, but effective tools, to produce the near 'perfect' match of reed and chanter.

The 'art' of tying reeds must be in the blood. In 1975 Joe introduced his son James to the business. The relationship was instantly successful, and the Warnock Reed was soon shipped to every corner of the globe.

James' son William was the Pipe Major of the local band and had achieved many major honors with the Warnock Reed. William built the reputation of the Warnock Reed in the process, until his untimely death.

With Joe's 'passing away' in 1979, and William's death in 1980, it left James to run the business on his own. The business was leased to a former employee, but failed to maintain the highest standards, for which the Warnock Reed was known.

Within recent years, James' four Grandsons, (Stephen, Neil Darren and Frazer) have re-established the business as Williams Reeds, and who continues to hand manufacture in a new purpose built workshop. With James still involved, and in his 86th year, the 'magic' of reed making still lives strong. The quality, consistency, and brightness of the sound is un-diminished, with orders, once again, being dispatched around the globe.