Alto ocarina
Distributor
St. Louis Music Supply Company
Date1940-1945 ca.
Place MadeBrooklyn, New York, United States, North America
ModelAmerican Broadkaster [sic] 106
Serial No.None
SignedEmbossed on mouthpiece: GRETSCH / ALTO C / OCARINAMarkingsEmbossed on back: PATENT NUMBERS / 2145605 / 2195992
Embossed fingering numbers by tone holes: 1 2 3 4 LL 5 6 7 / [on back side] RT LT
Embossed on the back of mouthpiece: MADE / IN / U.S.A.
DescriptionTransverse shape (or "sweet potato" shape), with duct and protruding mouthpiece; 10 fingerholes (2 originally sealed from factory; beginner instrument); plastic moulding compound of green mottled color.
U.S. Patent nos. 2145605 (1939) and 2195992 (1940) both awarded to George A. Mausolf, assignor to The Waterbury Button Company, Waterbury, Connecticut.
Although the term ocarina technically refers to a vessel style flute, ocarinas were commonly known in the U.S. as “sweet potatoes” because of their elongated shape. During World War II, the U.S. government issued plastic versions of the “sweet potato”---like this one---in the War Department’s Special Service Entertainment Kits designed as morale boosters for soldiers. In 1943 alone, plastic ocarinas were manufactured at the rate of 60,000 per month under government contract. Millions of these instruments were also distributed by the military as good-will tokens to the citizens of occupied countries.
DimensionsLength: 147mm (5-3/4in)
Height: 70mm (2-3/4in)
Depth: 32mm (1-1/4in)
ProvenanceNo known provenance.
Credit LineArne B. Larson Estate, 1988
Object number14986
On View
On view
1917-1919 ca.
