Jim's Mobile (JMI)

JMI Telescopes (Jim's Mobile, Inc.) is a world-renowned manufacturer of astronomical telescopes, almost indestructible telescope cases (as shown in photo!), and after-market accessories for the amateur and professional astronomer. They produce a variety of unique products that cannot be found anywhere else. In the spring of 1983 founder Jim Burr developed MOTOFOCUS, a motorized focusing mechanism allowing one to focus a telescope without creating vibrations. His device worked so well that he decided to advertise the product in Sky & Telescope magazine. Not expecting to create a completely new business with this project, he chose to advertise under his current business name, Jim's Mobile Color TV Shop. (That business was started in the fall of 1970 using a converted mail truck as a mobile shop.)

The response to Jim's invention was so favorable that he ended up turning his hobby into a full time business, and before long, JMI became a highly respected manufacturer of amateur astronomical equipment worldwide.

As Jim says, "I do not feel satisfied with past achievements. Therefore, I have adopted this motto: 'To become truly number one, you must strive constantly to surpass yourself, not the competition.' "