History Since 1866
In 1866, C.H. Campbell, a Scotch-American veteran of the US Civil War, founded a farm implement and hardware company in Newton, Massachusetts. By 1924 the area had fully industrialized and the company shed the farm implement division and became a hardware dealer. Gradually, as the economics of the country changed, emphasis became focused on contract hardware. Contract hardware is furnishing to a contractor on a project product applied to doors and frames via a contract. These products consist of hinges, locks, exit devices, hydraulic door closers, protection plates, door stops & holders, electromagnetic life safety devices, key control systems, weather-stripping, and many other items. These products are available in various types, designs, and finishes.
In 1966, R. J. McCabe, an Irish-American veteran of the Korean War, expanded into hollow metal frames & wood doors to supply a total opening. The distribution portion was divested in 1995 making the company an independent architectural hardware consulting firm, providing detailed specifications for all building types emphasizing interface with access controls, building codes, and barriers regulations. The first LEED project was completed in 2003. CMI established a San Diego, CA office in 2008 followed by a Doha, Qatar office in 2010. Contract hardware has been an area of mystery to most architects and building contractors as it takes many years of apprenticeship and experience to understand fully the complexity of this field. One of the reasons for this is that the value of hardware on any given project ranges from .5% to 3% of the total cost of the project. Therefore, the number of dollars assigned to this segment of the building construction industry does not warrant investment into the education of its participants. In other words, hands-on experience has been the proven method of learning this trade. CMI has been recognized as one of the most knowledgeable companies in this field by hardware manufacturers, manufacturers’ representatives, and competitors.
Campbell-McCabe has consulted with architects on international projects over the last 47 years writing approximately 5,500 specifications and on approximately 2,200 acting as Construction Administrators. CMI is able to draw from a large portfolio of applications to solve almost any design challenge. This portfolio includes hardware for airports, hospitals, schools, colleges, universities, government buildings, embassies, courthouses, office buildings, banks, hotels, psychiatric institutions, prisons, historical buildings, institutional & elderly housing, police and fire stations, libraries, and manufacturing facilities.
