Are 78 speed polka records from the 1940s worth anything?

Answer 1

It depends upon what they are and their condition. Some early Frankie Yankovic discs have been auctioned on Ebay recently for as high as $800 per item. Various Slovene, Polish, Scandinavian and Bohemian 78s also fall into this catagory. Most of the buying and selling activity I've seen in the past 30 or so years involves American polka bands based in the east, midwest and Texas. With the exception of the Val-Taro Musette - (an Italian band from New York City), most of the remaining "musette bands" on 78 do not command much money. These include most of the musette bands on Victor and Continental labels.