Joseph J. Blackmore started his career in business in 1935 after graduating from the University of Illinois. He was a manufacturers’ representative for Bell & Gossett, McDonnell & Miller, and Dole Valve Co.  His family had been associated with the heating industry for many years.  His grandfather was a charter member of ASHVE and was one of the founders of the United States Radiator Corp. His father was also a member of ASHVE and served as vice-president of manufacturing of US Radiator Corp.

Joe Blackmore spent his early years selling the merits of his company’s products over competitors'.  As his own experience grew, he conducted numerous training programs for distributors, contractors and industrial users concerning design and installation of residential and commercial heating systems.

Material shortages during World War II limited the distribution of basic heating and plumbing equipment to repairs and replacements that had government priority approval.  Industrial applications of existing products, along with development of new centrifugal pumps, heat exchangers, valves and controls, provided new sales opportunities.

With the increased demand for new homes for returning World War II veterans, Joe Blackmore became the radiant heat pioneer that architects, engineers, contractors and developers looked to for guidance. 

Following his military service and graduation from Purdue University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Gordon Glunt joined the company as a salesman in 1948 with responsibility to work closely with contractors and consulting engineers.  Two years later, Blackmore and Glunt was incorporated. 

By the early fifties, a building program consisting of new schools, universities, churches, hospitals, and commercial buildings presented opportunities to encourage designers to utilize hot and chilled water for heating and cooling systems.  Blackmore and Glunt grew quickly by developing the support of loyal engineers, contractors and users by providing superior products, system application knowledge, educational programs, and field service.

In 1960 Tanner Compton transferred from St. Louis to open a Blackmore and Glunt office in Kansas City.  Blackmore and Glunt built a new office/warehouse building in Lenexa, KS in 1981.

Roland Brumitt started our industrial department by providing direct contact with a growing group of industrial users of pumps, heat exchangers, controls, and industrial piping products. 

Gordon Glunt followed Joe Blackmore as company President and served as the first President of the ITT Fluid Handling Representatives Association.

Don Hicks led the development of a municipal sales division, supported by additional product lines including large waste and water supply pumps and variable speed controls.  Originally called Progress Pump Company and later Progress Environmental Corporation, that division was sold in 2002.

Blackmore and Glunt purchased the ITT Fluid Handling Sales office located in Cincinnati, OH in 1985.  Don Hicks transferred there and opened a new office with a warehouse.

The United States government issued numerous patents to Joe and Cy Blackmore and Gordon and John Glunt for devices to control air and other gases and for fittings and valves used in piping systems. Bell & Gossett and Flow Conditioning Corporation have manufactured and distributed the resulting products worldwide.

Blackmore and Glunt has been a strong supporter of ASHRAE. Numerous chapter presidents and national committee chairmen have come from our company.  Joe Blackmore and Gordon Glunt both were Fellows and Life Members.

Cy Blackmore and John Glunt, sons of the founders of Blackmore and Glunt, are the CEO and President, respectively, of the company. Cy’s son, Scott Blackmore, is the sales manager. John’s son, Robert, is an outside salesman.

We are proud of our tradition and history. We look forward to providing leadership in the industry for many generations to come.