Tokai Logos Over Time (MIJ)

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Sigmania

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Just wanted to lay out the various logos and changes over time.

Hoping folks can help with nailing down the timeline.

And this may be the first Tokai logo of sorts on a guitar. The word Tokai in Japanese and what are likely 1960s classicals. Each possibly hand written/painted?

34738-f00601e3f35bf851b3b18247d7c6fe7a.jpg
34924-7fec0e0cd2fc6b5cea1aace6e409f123.png
1960s Tokai Classicals
 
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"Tokai" to "Tohui"


Notice how the "o" connects to the "k"

Notice if the "k" looks like an "h"

Notice if the "a" is open or closed at the top.



dn3PW18.png


1981 LS100S MIJ, open "a", pronounced "k"


meWK39t.png


1985 LS60 MIJ. "k" looks more like an "h"


9TTzMv8.png


2003 Fakai, closed "a", pronounced "k"


DiLPRis.jpg


2008 LS115F MIJ.


wElpZ6q.png


2008, 6 digit serial, Likely Korean, yawning "o", "k" looks like an "h"


q9W5ZDR.png


2008 Chinese, CH08 serial number. Note the "o" connection to the "k"


Y1jiWVw.png


2013 Chinese. CN13 serial number. Very close to MIJ logo at the time.

"Tokai" Headstock Logo Variations
 
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Fender type guitars had logos that changed over time, gradually moving away from any suggestion of a Fender logo.



C3UBVYo.jpg


1977-1982 "Spaghetti Logo" (End date different in different parts of the world).
http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=26190



18mqIIH.jpg


1982/83 "Block Logo" (Uk only)
Note: Extremely similar to early "Reborn Old" campaign logo/stickers in 1979.
http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=26216



nvO7BJA.png


1982-1984 Hybrid logo with "7" style T combined with the script logo used on Fender "copy" guitars shipped to the US and other markets.




kFdMXJE.jpg


1984- Modern "Script Logo"
 
Another interesting thing is that the new "script logo" introduced in 1984 was actually the old logo used in the 1970s.

(early Tokai acoustic with a zero fret and 3 screw TRC on the head stock)

nf9LmTN.png
 
Just realized the logo for the registry is essentially that short lived transitional logo from 1982-1984.

612pcaw.png


QmSncNi.jpg
 
Random short lived logos.

1960s (?) acoustic.

Untitled-1.jpg

Circa 1969/70 Hummingbird.

Acoustic:

31132-13af087ab95dd66fb5126469dde3fb2b.jpg

Electric:

1K386r2.jpg
 
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By the end of 1972? some of these early logos on acoustics may have been used concurrently based on what models they were imitating?

Gibson or other non Martin models (script) or Martin (Humming>Humingbird>Tokai Gakki> and then Cat's Eyes or torch)?
 
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