I would like help identifying the age and possible value of these two harmonicas that probably came to the US from Germany in 1959. They both have the six-sided star in the logo. The Chronomika I lettering style is different than everything I have seen online. I don’t know if that makes it rare or very common. The box from the Marine Band model is in good shape but is very faded. It is dark pink in the inside and faded to bone white on the outside. Thanks in advance for any info you may have on these two.
Hi Spence
Harmonicas don’t have serial numbers, so it’s difficult to date them with any accuracy. The six pointed star suggests your suggestion of 1959 could be realistic, but doesn’t signify pre-WW2 origin with any degree of certainty, as some post-war models also have this feature. Can you post a photo of the top of the Marine band box, and maybe also the front of the mouthpiece? It’s an unusual design for a 10-hole, that style of cover plate is usually found on the 12- & 14-hole Marine Band models. Are these instruments playable?
The market value of older harmonicas is generally not that high unless you find a collector who wants a particular model, or send it to a tech who restores older instruments. If the box is in good condition it can be worth more than the instrument. The MB case appears to be a 2 part cardboard box which I’ve not seen before, or did the top just break off?
Cheers
Steve