HAROLD CHRISCOE, SEAGROVE, NC - BANJO BUILDER AND REPAIRMAN

Harold Chriscoe of Seagrove, NC is a long time friend dating back to the late 1960s +-.  I visited with him today on 07-31-10 and we swapped ole stories, banjo building info while looking over several pre-war banjos of which I had never had my hands on a ball bearing Granada dating that far back; FON 8118-7.  This Granada has a very unusual piece of inlay in the headstock and everything was all original.  See the below pix of the head stock; look close and find the abnormality which is not too obvious.  Also inserted pixs of Harold's work shop:

NOTE:  I talked with Harold on 08-28-11 and the above Granada was traded for a TB4 RH and some "boot".  Harold said he had turned down an earlier offer of 8K for the banjo. 

In the above pixs, take a look at Harold's work bench of which I call that "working smarter not harder", whereas he is able to do instrument repairs while sitting down in a regular chair/stool which takes pressure off your legs and upper torso.  To reiterate, Harold could think outside the box and very well at that!  Harold said that C.E. Ward came into his shop and noticed his workbench and was very impressed by it too!  Harold traded a used tractor for one of CE Ward's latest F5 clone mandolins that did not have any finish on it and CE had played it for sometime while in the raw and it was definitely aged in.  Harold said it was a little difficult to get the finish like he wanted on it because of the oils from the hands playing and handling the mandolin.

Harold and myself did a lot of musical instruments and parts trading back in the 1970s and he is an excellent top of the line repairman and instrument builder.  Harold had the ability to come up with innovative ways (think outside the box) of doing things back before specialty tools were available and could and still does replicate the old Gibson stain and finish patterns as well. 

Harold was able to use his table saw to remove the required material off an arch top wood rim to convert it for a flathead tone ring without using a lathe.  He also had a router mounted underneath his table saw top, whereas he could do precision routing without the usage of a separate router table. 

Harold's shop is packed with untold quantities of instruments, parts, etc. and doubt if he knows exactly what he has...grin if you must.  We dry fitted a couple original tube and plate flange necks on my "Flaming Claw" pot assembly and made a few measurements of the neck drop at the nut before I drill the hanger bolt holes in my Flaming Claw PREWARTONE neck.  It was a most enjoyable visit and both our hair has gotten much whiter with all the norms associated with "maturity",  but we still have a "sparkle" in our eyes for THE GREAT DEPRESSION ERA musical instruments! 

Harold would usually end our conversation with "Good Nuff."

GOD SUPPLIES OUR EVERY NEED!

Harold purchased a mint condition Gibson Hummingbird guitar from me near Christmas in 1978, the year before I sold my business and his purchase allowed our "kids" to have a wonderful Christmas that year when things were really, really tight money wise.  My bride has not forgotten that sale to this day and simply states, "Harold was God sent with her prayers being answered" and I do concur that as well!

I asked Harold if he still remembered that visit and purchase and he said he did.  He said he hadn't planned on coming this way, but just got in his vehicle and headed this way.  He had folding money in his wallet, exactly the amount we needed!  Like I said, "God supplies our every need."

Harold Chriscoe was a permanent "fixture" at most of the Bluegrass Festivals back in the 1970s and always on the look out for that "Holy Grail" flat head Mastertone too, whereas he has had his hands on many of them over the years!

Harold had a trading friend named "Buck" Grimes (now deceased), of which I probably traded for a car trunk full of all kinds of guns over the years and other things such as knives, etc. before all the red tape for third party selling/trading of weapons came into being. 

HAROLD CHRISCOE APPRECIATION DAY

There are several YouTube videos of the Harold Chriscoe Appreciation Day published on November 9, 2015 where many musicians from various parts of the country came to Seagrove, NC to honor Harold Chriscoe for his contribution to the Bluegrass Music Community.  An award was present by Sandra Hatley with many musicians displaying their talent.  

Below is the hyperlink to the presentation of the award. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Epo4QYgx_yA

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 07-23-19.

UPDATE:  I recently talked with Harold Chriscoe via telephone and his daughter was killed in a car accident six months ago.  Harold's wife died 18 years ago and with his current health issues, needs our prayers.  Harold is on my daily prayer list and I have a tremendous amount of respect for Harold!  Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 05-13-17.

HAROLD'S HEAVENLY HOME

Harold Chriscoe went to his heavenly home to meet our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on July 25, 2018.  Prior to his death, I talked to Harold via telephone and he told me that the last chemo therapy treatments given did not help him and the Drs. told him there was nothing else they could do.  Harold has been in my daily prayers since I learned of his medical issues and it was my recent prayers for God to heal him if it was His will and if not, to take him on home without a lot of pain and suffering.

I have many wonderful memories of Harold and have a few tid bits posted above about Harold.  Back in the early 1970s, Harold wore a "ten gallon" white Stetson hat and I believe I took a pix of him wearing it, but it got lost over the years. 

Harold was one of the most kind, gentle, honest, humble, generous and meek persons I have ever known.  I certainly miss him, but plan to see him again when the rapture/resurrection takes place which can't be too far in the distant future!  Good bye for now my friend, until we meet again!

My prayers go out to Harold's family and friends in their present time of sorrow and grief and with the Lord's grace and mercy, time will help heal!

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 07-28-18.

UPDATE

I talked with Glenn Chriscoe, one of Harold Chriscoe's sons today, (09-14-2022) and Glenn gave me permission to place on this website that Harold owned Gibson pre-war RB18 banjo FON 744-1, of which was later sold upon the death of his Dad along with other valuable pre-war instruments.  I have particular information about this banjo on my web page hyperlinked here.

I thoroughly enjoyed talking with Glenn Chriscoe and we both reminisced about his dad Harold and it seems like only yesterday, I posted the pictures taken of Harold on 07-31-10.  Time definitely waits for no one.

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 09-14-2022 and copy and pasted from my biography page on 08-03-2024.

LEAVING ON A SPIRITUAL NOTE

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, please take this moment to accept him by Faith into your Life, whereby Salvation will be attained.   

Ephesians 2:8 - 2:9 8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Open this link about faith in the King James Bible.