I have several Harmony guitars. My oldest is an 1896 STAR parlor guitar with Brazillian Rosewood back and sides and a Spruce top. Sold new for $3.95 in 1896. I also have a 1903 Harmony Kappelor guitar. There are only two of these known to still exist. It was a top of the line guitar when it was made and sold by Sears for $10.86 at a time when the average monthly wage in the US was $18. Both of these guitars are made of high quality woods and excellent craftsmanship that matched the Martins of their time. By the 1930's Harmony made 50% of all the guitars sold in the US. After WWII the brand declined until they went out of business in 1970. The Brand name was bought by a Chinese company about 15 years ago and they put out an economy line of guitars. Harmony also made Stellas and close to 50 other brands. If you can find a Harmony made before 1939 you'll have a quality instrument. After that until 1970 they were still American made of solid wood but they were production line cheapies except for the Soverigns.