justme516

Hello all. I just received a vintage CG Conn Perfected Wonder Cornet as part of an estate and I was wondering if anyone might be able to tell me an approximate value. It is in good physical condition as far as I can tell, it has no dings, needs polishing. The valves don't go up or down and I don't know if it plays (I'm not a musician). It came in it's original case with two mouth pieces, music holder, bulb thingy, another type of slide ?? I had an offer for $100 as is. I'm not sure how to tell what the serial number is. There are numbers on the 3 valves(??) 3 2 1 M 93653. Any help or info. would be appreciated.

Thanks.

MFfan

Hi, if you Google, Connloyalist, you will get to Christine's excellent site with loads of information. Looks like the Perfected Wonder was made in a number of models about 100 yrs ago. You can check the chart of models there. Most of those were built to play in Bb, C, or A, usually Bb and A. Probably what the extra slide is for.

That 93xxx number is probably the serial and would date it to 1905-6 per Christine's list.

Someone, a buyer or you, would have to get the valves unstuck and make sure the slides pull out as they should. Those are the main things I see.

As to value, it is very variable depending on the model, scarcity and appeal of your horn. I would go to Ebay -musical Instruments-cornet-trumpet and get the current Conn listings and see if you see any thing similar. Right now:
Vintage C.G. Conn cornet Wonderphone serial 107222 , buy it now $1000.
1906 Conn Conn-Queror 1906, $143.10 or best offer (pretty rough)
1903 Conn Conn-queror cornet 1903 $150 starting bid

You can also go to the advanced search function on ebay and search for completed sales of those instrument.

See site default Lots of data on vintage cornets and the list owner is looking to buy vintage horns of certain types that he has listed there. He might be able to give you and opinion.

Others may weigh in here. Hope it helps.