History of French American Reeds.
The Nazi Blitzkrieg was holding Europe, yet during a time of political lull in 1939, Mario returned to Paris to check on his reed business. Even though the countries were trying to formulate a peace treaty, Mario feared what might ensue and packed up two reed-cutting machines and two shaping machines and sent them to New York. At that time, one of Mario’s friends who worked in the Foreign Office called and told Mario that the truce was off, the Germans were about to take Paris, and departure seemed virtually impossible. Mario hung up the phone and rushed to the docks to find the harbor blockaded by German warships and the last ship allowed to leave, the Ile de France, was loading passengers and no more tickets were available. The following is a direct account of Mario Maccaferri’s escape from France relayed to Michael Dresdner in a 1982 story and reprinted in a 1995 Vintage Guitar Magazine article by Michael Wright. "I went down to the French Line, which was in the same building as the Embassies, and saw a line of people circling more than two blocks. "What am I going to do?" I thought. 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."
