CMI

product types: 

  • amplifiers
  • acoustic guitars
  • bass guitars
  • electric guitars

Information: 

There were two CMI brands. CMI (Cleartone Musical Instruments - the top logo above) was a UK distributer of Japanese made guitars and was owned by Jim Marshall. CMI was also a brand used by Chicago Musical Instruments Co. (the script logo with a star above) a musical instrument distributor founded in 1920. In 1944, CMI took a controlling interest in Gibson. In 1969, ECL, a South American company, acquired a majority of CMI shares, and the two companies merged to form a new company called Norlin Corp. CMI Electronics continued as an amplifier brand and guitar brand into the 1970s (again with Japanese made guitars).

1 Comment

CMI logos

Hi,

Both the logo's, block and the cursive script logo with a star above, were used by Cleartone Musical Instruments in England throughout the mid-70's and early 80's.