23/12/2024
Honouring the Past: The Macaferri Machines and Their Journey to Gonzalez Reeds
The Macaferri family, originally from Italy, has a story marked by resilience, innovation, and dedication to craftsmanship. Before emigrating to the United States during the challenging war times, the Macaferri family was already involved in reed-making. However, after settling in the U.S., the family shifted their focus to the burgeoning plastic industry.
After retiring from the plastic business, the family returned to their roots and decided to revive reed production. It was during this period that they reached out to Gonzalez Reeds, seeking for raw material and blanks to continue their production. It was a moment of reconnection, as the two families shared a deep respect for the art of reed-making.
But the story takes a poignant turn after the passing of Mario Macaferri, the creator of the Macaferri factory. His passing left a significant legacy, one that Maria, his widow, felt compelled to honor. The Macaferri factory had some innovative machines developed by Mario, and she offered them to Gonzalez Reeds so we can purchase them and keep them working. At Gonzalez Reeds, we understood the value of those machines and saw an opportunity to preserve a piece of the reed manufacturing history.
With the purchase of 4 machines, which were restored and updated to adapt to the current times, we were able to expand the production of reeds by adding new models and instruments, and keeping the spirit of the Macaferri family and Mario alive.
