Nation's Last Harmonica Manufacturer To Close
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A local company that is the only harmonica manufacturer in the United States is closing its doors.
Brad Harrison opened his Harrison Harmonicas company in 2010, and has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning.
The company later moved to Chicago, and has been headquartered at 4541 N. Ravenswood Ave.
Founder Brad Harrison sent an e-mail to customers Thursday explaining that another firm had purchased the rights to produce his unique B-Radical harmonica. Harrison created the B-Radical.
In the e-mail, Harrison said it turned out to be more expensive to produce harmonicas than he anticipated. He says the other company will fill back orders.
Harrison Harmonicas has been drawing complaints about its business practices.
CBS affiliate WIFR-TV, Rockford, reported last week on customer Bob Ditmer, who placed a $200 order with Harrison Harmonicas for an instrument that was supposed to arrive last Christmas. After a couple of e-mails from the company blaming a backlog of orders for the delay, Ditmer recently received an e-mail saying the company has been sold, WIFR reported.
Harrison Harmonicas also closed its Rockford office months ago with many orders unfulfilled,
The Better Business Bureau says 21 complaints are pending against the company.
