# I hope there's a factual answer to whatever the heck this is?? (pics) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 20, 2007, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813 "2007-09-20T00:31:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/1 "2007-09-20T00:31:54Z")
Well I hope there is a factual answer to whatever the heck this is…the following are pictures of some sort of Submarine looking thing made out of clay. The clay is a reddish brown, it has many holes and an odd thumb grip on the bottom. The writing is Italian I think and there are several seals or stamps on the side of it. The only thing I don’t know is what the heck is it? Any Ideas? Picks [Here](http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/Phlosphr/NotSure7.jpg), [Here,](http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/Phlosphr/NotSure6.jpg)[here](http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/Phlosphr/NotSure5.jpg), [here](http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/Phlosphr/NotSure4.jpg), [here](http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/Phlosphr/NotSure3.jpg), [and here](http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/Phlosphr/Not-Sure1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Fetchund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b2d939/32.png) [@Fetchund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fetchund)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/2 "2007-09-20T00:33:02Z")
Looks like some type of Ocarina… [Ocarinas](http://www.stlocarina.com/?gclid=CP7gnOrk0I4CFQIQFQodW04bAA) ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/3 "2007-09-20T00:33:54Z")
[Ocarina](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocarina) ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/4 "2007-09-20T00:34:11Z")
Yes, it’s an [ocarina](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocarina). ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/5 "2007-09-20T00:42:16Z")
I’m thinking it might be an ocarina. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/6 "2007-09-20T00:42:27Z")
1920’s BCE style death submarine ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/7 "2007-09-20T00:55:15Z")
It’s an ocarina, sir. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/8 "2007-09-20T00:55:22Z")
You can now play that whistling gunslinger tune from **The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly** on the original instrument! ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/9 "2007-09-20T00:55:53Z")
Oh, of course it’s an **Ocarina** … 😕 I have never seen one of those. I wonder how old this one is. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/10 "2007-09-20T01:24:24Z")
The stamp in the third picture actually says “Ocarina”… ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/11 "2007-09-20T01:50:26Z")
Okay, here’s what I found just googling around: The large stamp says “2 MEDAGLIE TORINO EO A(?)NVERSA”. “Medaglie” is “medals” and “Torino” is “Turin”. The rest I don’t know. The stamp on the underside is “SILVESTRI LUIGI, CAMISANO VICENTINO”. Luigi Silvestri was an instrument-maker in the late 19th/early 20th century. He died in 1927. So the instrument isn’t THAT old, but it’s definitely vintage. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/12 "2007-09-20T02:02:44Z")
Gosh, I saw the thread title and on mouseover I thought it might be some kind of ocarina. In fact, can it be anything else? ---
**Author:** ![whatami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/85f322/32.png) [@whatami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whatami)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/13 "2007-09-20T02:02:57Z")
I don’t want to say definitively, but it looks like it _could_ be an ocarina. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/14 "2007-09-20T02:03:44Z")
Have we figured out what it is yet? ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/15 "2007-09-20T02:06:09Z")
I’m not sure if anyone mentioned this, but it may just be an ocarina-type instrument. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/16 "2007-09-20T02:09:37Z")
I knew a girl from Ocarina once… [Ocarina Discussion Board](http://ocland.proboards26.com/) ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/17 "2007-09-20T02:15:34Z")
Tall and tan and young and lovely, the girl from Ocarina goes walking And when she passes, each one she passes goes - ah When she walks, she’s like a samba that swings so cool and sways so gently That when she passes, each one she passes goes - aah Ooh But he watches so sadly, How can he tell her he loves her, Yes he would give his heart gladly, but instead when she walks to the sea, she looks straight ahead not at him, Tall, and tan, and young, and lovely, the girl from Ocarina goes walking And when she passes, he smiles - but she doesn’t see ---
**Author:** ![Mayo\_Speaks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mayo\_Speaks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mayo_Speaks)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/18 "2007-09-20T02:16:33Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] Have we figured out what it is yet? [/QUOTE] “Rio” by Duran Duran ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/19 "2007-09-20T02:21:32Z")
It’s amazing how close the yellow submarine from the Beatles carton The Yellow Submarine looks like the picture you posted. I wonder if they modeled it after the ocarina during one of the trips they took. [http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://shopping.animazing.com/cart/images/480.gif&imgrefurl=http://shopping.animazing.com/cgi-bin/cart/viewitem%3Fitem%3D480&h=287&w=420&sz=135&hl=en&start=8&um=1&tbnid=cYwmAMHrJkOzJM:&tbnh=85&tbnw=125&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dyellow%2Bsubmarine%26svnum%3D100%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN](http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://shopping.animazing.com/cart/images/480.gif&imgrefurl=http://shopping.animazing.com/cgi-bin/cart/viewitem%3Fitem%3D480&h=287&w=420&sz=135&hl=en&start=8&um=1&tbnid=cYwmAMHrJkOzJM:&tbnh=85&tbnw=125&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dyellow%2Bsubmarine%26svnum%3D100%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN) ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/20 "2007-09-20T02:32:05Z")
[QUOTE=ZipperJJ] It’s an ocarina, sir. [/QUOTE] Well put it there, on the table! (ha! I was gonna post just that line!) I was thinking “ocarina” when I saw the pictures, fwiw. Used to have one. Picked it up in London, actually. Loved to play it. Then my brother stomped it into dust. He didn’t appreciate my unique ocarina style. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813.md?page=2)