Brady Jefcoat Museum

[EFearing]

To take a break this past weekend I went to the Brady Jefcoat Museum in Murfreesboro, NC. I had heard about it for some time and actually knew Mr. Jefcoat from auctions. The place is unbelieveable! Mr Jefcoat (now in his late 90's) was afflicted with a withered arm but this did not stop him from running a successful plumbing business and building 4 houses among other things during his lifetime. Many years ago, after his wife died, (no children), he became bored and lonely. Someone brought an old Victrola with a beoken spring, and asked him if he could fix it. Having worked in metal for years, he gave it a try, and fixed it. This led to his search for others to work on, and his compulsion! He went to every Flea Mkt, auction, and antique shop in N. C. buying any machine he could get his hands on! This was not enough! His collecting extended to anything and everything!! Washing machines,butter churns, sewing items, radios, irons,(1500 in the collection!) and many things were collected! Most of these items never saw the light of day after he bought them. They ended up in storage units, sheds and neighbors garages and warehouses!

About 10 years ago he decided to give this vast collection to someone in North Carolina for a museum. He had some strange stipulations. The place that took the collection had to take it all! It also had to all be displayed! The kicker was it all had to be under one roof!! It couldn't be in seperate buildings on the same property.

He contacted every city and town in NC. Most wanted it but nobody had the facilitiy. Murfreesboro had just built a new high school and had a large 2 story brick 1920's building vacant! They took it!!

What an amazing collection! It is all displayed, but some of the collections like the phonographs need some attention. The museum is run by volunteers and is only open on Saturdays. While every thing is out, the docents don't know much about what they have. I became the tour guide in the phono collection, telling the docent things he didn't know. It was however quite an experience, with many phonos that I had only seen in pictures. By the same token there were several "Frankenphones" that he cobbled together, like the whiskey barrel with a Victor horn and motor, and a Columbia Favorite, lid removed, and a HUGE signet horn attached made ouy of telephone books paper mache'd together. I could go on but check out the pics and see for yourself!! Ed

[EFearing]

As a side note, this was NOT the entire collection. He had kept the best machines, (and some junk) in his 1700sq ft home in Raliegh> Two years ago he went into a nursing home and his attorney authorized a sale of his remaining collection. I attended that sale and was floored at the prices these things brought!! FULL retail!! Just shows you what good advertizing and auction histerics can create!! Ed

[Tinkerbell]

Thank you for sharing the photos.

I actually LIKE the idea of a cobbled together whiskey barrel phono... though personally I would prefer one made from a wood wine cask, myself. Anyway, I wouldn't mind seeing a picture of that one, if you have it.

[EFearing]

Thank you for sharing the photos.

I actually LIKE the idea of a cobbled together whiskey barrel phono... though personally I would prefer one made from a wood wine cask, myself. Anyway, I wouldn't mind seeing a picture of that one, if you have it.

Hi Tink, Sorry but it was so strange i didn't take a pic of it, but if you can imagine the barrel turned on end with hardware store screwed in legs on it. The round top housed the motor and the back bracket had an arm that was a victrola arm with an additional welded length on it in order for it to reach the record. All this topped with a huge edison horn cut out and welded to the bracket. Then the whole mess was painted white and decorated with dubious floral accents!!! Come to think of it, I should have taken a picture of it because it was soooo bad! Ed

PS Have you gotten your parachute to come and see my collection?

[Kirkwood]

I have only heard about Mr Jefcoat in passing, many thanks for the great pics and the news of his status----as well as that of his collection. The buffet-sideboard looking machine has sort of the look of an Aeolian-Vocalion but I have never seen such a machine. Do you think that one was factory or an after-market assemblage?

Mr Jefcoat is lucky to see his dream of "all together, all in one place" realized in his lifetime. Glad that worked out for him---as we all know, that's not a common situation.

[Skihawx]

As a side note, this was NOT the entire collection. He had kept the best machines, (and some junk) in his 1700sq ft home in Raliegh> Two years ago he went into a nursing home and his attorney authorized a sale of his remaining collection. I attended that sale and was floored at the prices these things brought!! FULL retail!! Just shows you what good advertizing and auction histerics can create!! Ed

I had heard of Mr. Jefcoat years ago. He has to be the guy that I was told about with all the barns and warehouses in North Carolina. I was also told he hada double bomb Victor "Period" model but it dosn't appear that it has turned up.

[Tinkerbell]

Thank you for sharing the photos.

I actually LIKE the idea of a cobbled together whiskey barrel phono... though personally I would prefer one made from a wood wine cask, myself. Anyway, I wouldn't mind seeing a picture of that one, if you have it.

Hi Tink, Sorry but it was so strange i didn't take a pic of it, but if you can imagine the barrel turned on end with hardware store screwed in legs on it. The round top housed the motor and the back bracket had an arm that was a victrola arm with an additional welded length on it in order for it to reach the record. All this topped with a huge edison horn cut out and welded to the bracket. Then the whole mess was painted white and decorated with dubious floral accents!!! Come to think of it, I should have taken a picture of it because it was soooo bad! Ed

PS Have you gotten your parachute to come and see my collection?

I'm sewing my parachute right now on my old Singer treadle machine! I'll need some guidance later on where to bail out of the plane tho.

Wow, guess the whiskey barrel phono was quite an eyesore. I bet I could put together a pretty cool looking wine cask frankenphone...

[OrthoSean]

He has to be the guy that I was told about with all the barns and warehouses in North Carolina. I was also told he hada double bomb Victor "Period" model but it dosn't appear that it has turned up.

I wonder if you might be thinking of Charles McCarn, he has quite a collection and is also in NC....barns full...

Sean

[Skihawx]

He has to be the guy that I was told about with all the barns and warehouses in North Carolina. I was also told he hada double bomb Victor "Period" model but it dosn't appear that it has turned up.

I wonder if you might be thinking of Charles McCarn, he has quite a collection and is also in NC....barns full...
Sean

You might be right Sean. It may have been Charles McCarn. There sure are a lot of phonographs down in North Carolina! I don't see too much up here in New Hampshire.
Jeff

[Tinkerbell]

There sure are a lot of phonographs down in North Carolina!
Jeff

I was thinking the same thing about Pennsylvania... seems like a lot of phonographs for sale on Ebay and CL originate there. It made me wonder why certain areas seem to be so saturated with them; perhaps lack of power on farms?