Carmelo Catania was a Sicilian luthier who created a manufacturing centre in Catania, Sicily making guitars and parts for his Catania brand as well as other Italian brands. His most productive years were between the end of the second World War and the 1960s, and he made a range of unusual looking acoustic, archtop and even resonator guitars. Catania's first electric models were made around 1952-1953.
Claudio Baglioni and Domenico Modugno both started out on Carmelo Catania guitars as did many other beginners: Carmelo Catania produced a great deal of the Italian entry-level acoustic guitars in the 1960s. Catania used hardware made by Milanese luthier Abete Naldi, and pickup parts made by one of Naldi’s sons.
Carmelo died in 1970.
Reference: www.fetishguitars.com