Description

Ocarina (Roda system) – ULLMANN

This unusual ocarina with tuning slide was made by the Parisian company ULLMANN. Charles & Joseph ULLMANN established an instrument-making factory at Mirecourt in 1881 with a wholesale warehouse in Paris from 1908-1928.

The Ullmann catalogue from 1907 details “unbreakable” ocarinas covered in white celluloid with tortoiseshell-effect tips. This is an ocarina in B and the tortoiseshell tips are of course not real but celluloid!

If we look at the stamp, we can see that it mentions “Roda system”. This refers to the patent 234095 of 19 November 1893 for 15 years submitted by Ercole RODA. He was born in Vedrana, Bologna Italy on May 20 1853. He was later naturalised French and became “Hercule” Joseph Marie Roda. He loved the sound of clay or ceramic ocarinas, but they were of course fragile and prone to breaking with the slightest impact. He decided to coat the clay body with celluloid, making it durable, with a decorative covering to act like a cushion to protect the instrument.

The literature informs us that he worked for the Mezzetti brothers (Alberto & Ercole). But Hercule had his own factory in Paris and earned honourable mentions for his ocarinas at various exhibitions. He retired and died in Nice in 1928. More on our mate Hercule to come!