History of French American Reeds

At that time, I was wearing glasses I didn’t need them, but thought they looked good and sported a small mustache, a dark suit and a Honburg (hat). I knew I had to get in there, so I went to a place where they rented limos, hired one, and gave the chauffeur a $20 tip in advance. I told him, "Take me to the French Line. Drive right up to the entrance, get out of the car, open the door for me and salute me." When I got out carrying my briefcase, the two guards rushed over and saluted me and I walked right inside. "The room was empty, just columns and a skylight and I thought: "What the hell am I going to do now?" So I stood by one of the columns as if I were waiting for someone and watched as one man passed by a few times, going from one office to another. So I called him over. I had $10,000 in my pocket. I said to him, "I’ll give you ten thousand dollars if you get me on that goddamned boat. I’m going to stay right here, so make up your mind." "Anyhow, I got on the boat. When I got here (to New York), the Customs agent asked me if I had any money. I told him, "Yes, I have three dollars in my pocket." He said, "What do you think you are going to do with only three dollars?" I said, "I’m going to see my wife and baby, and then I’ll think about it."

Back in New York, 19 year old Maria Maccaferri, who did not know a word of English and had only the remains of the $25 check Mario left with her, was worried about her husband's return yet had faith that he would be home soon. She received a telegram from her husband that read, "I’ll be home tomorrow." She remembers grabbing her baby and dancing around the apartment filled with joy. Once rejoined with his family in New York, Mario set up the machines that he had sent over from France and began to run the French American Reeds company out of a factory on Broadway. Mario and Maria ran the business together: he was the idea and marketing person while she supervised production and ran the business. Mario continued making improvements on the design of his reeds, always improving on his own design. One day, Mario brought some samples with him to a Benny Goodman show and gave them to him. The very next day, Goodman paid Mario a personal visit at his factory and raved about how incredible the reeds were. Soon all the top musicians were visiting Mario asking him to fix their instruments. They began to use and professionally endorse his reeds in concert and on advertisements, never allowing payment from Mario. The endorsements combined with the war in Europe lead Mario to dominate the reed industry. In order to meet the increasing demand, Mario needed more machines to supply reeds, but the Second World War prohibited him from obtaining new parts to build the machines. With his ability to innovate and invent, Mario adapted the available machinery to suit his needs. He worked on the machines while at the office and at home. In their apartment, Mario made a draft board that fit on top of his daughter’s playpen. He was determined to meet the need of his customers as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, the war in Europe presented several other problems to Mario’s reed business. The imported French cane from which the Maccaferris