Mario Maccaferri Timeline

Lived in Cento (Ferrara), first at the Valentini Mill in viale Bulgarelli, where Erminio Maccaferri worked as a guardian, then in via Cremonino, 12.

Upon his father’s untimely death, his mother Demetria began to work as a seamstress 

The workshop of Mozzani on via Gennari in Cento He remained there until 1917, when he was called to arms due to the outbreak of the First World War.

Mario learned all the guitar techniques of the Master, in particular the “tremolo Mozzani “and the use of the metal nail al right hand thumb (thumb-pick), which allowed him an early start to his career as a concert artist.

Could be early 1933 even though Maccaferri says 1932 in an interview.

Note: There was a film release in 1934 called Lac aux dames starring actress Simone Simon as Puck in the lead female role.

“I realized that from that moment the days of my concerts were over.

This did not upset me too much because I was beginning to find routine a bit boring of exercising and performing.” (Reference needed)

At this time he started developing the reed business

Life in Paris was not easy, Maccaferri decided to start building reeds in 1934. 

He prepared the new activities with the purchase of special machinery for their production

While he watched a clarinet player take down his own reed deformed by moisture, Maccaferri had the idea for his production line of “isolating” reeds: cut diagonally from the barrels, to prevent deformations in as the reed had an equal number of pores open on each side.

He associated himself with Pier Rosier, a jeweler who worked in diamonds, and they developed and patented a machine that used 6 industrial diamonds to cut/shave the reed barrel

Established French-American Reed Company

Mario returns to France to attend to his business.  Returns to America by August  shortly before the Germans invade Poland and France declares war.

American visa granted on December 19

The equipment was sold at auction.  Molds for the plastic instruments including the Plastic Ukulele were sold to another company.  Sometimes listed as Carnival but have often heard Eminee.  Given the previous legal battles it is not clear who purchased the molds.  Despite remaining close to the plastics business the family has no information on where the molds eventually ended up.