C. H. McGuiness started in the boiler business while working   for the 'Carbon Coal Company'.  He installed boilers (stokers)   on the side - with the permission of the 'Carbon Coal   Company' - since they themselves did not sell or install boilers.

     In March of 1941, while working as a salesman for the   'Carbon Coal Co.', he quoted to install a boiler in the   Kirkwood Hotel.  It was installed in 1943.  As we checked the   records, he was still a salesman until July, 1944.  A   correspondence, dated August, 1945, lists the company name   as 'Iowa Kol-Master Company'.  In 1945, they opened an   office in the Plymouth Building, Room 205, with two (2) small   rooms in the basement for parts.  In 1950, the company became   'C. H. McGuiness Co.' and moved to 712 Park St. in Des   Moines. In 1954, they expanded into the incinerator field,   representing 'Joseph Goder Incinerators' and that same year,   they moved the office to 505 SW 7th Street.  At first, they   occupied a small office area on the N.W. corner, sharing the   building with the 'Carpenter Oil Company'.  In 1955, the   company expanded and a branch office was started in   Davenport, where Paul Boatman did sales and service.  Bill   Turley later worked in this position, and finally,   Mike McGuiness took over.

     On December 5, 1963, C. H. McGuiness was killed in an   automobile accident and John McGuiness took over the   leadership of the company.  GROW was the word!  In 1968,   the company moved it's office to the back half of the building, for   more space, this time sharing the building with the 'Pester Derby   Company'.  On April 1, 1968, the company incorporated and   became 'C. H. McGuiness Co., Inc.', adding a full-time sales   person.  By 1971, the 'Pester Derby Company' moved out and   we took over the entire building.

     In December, 1972, we added a second office assistant and
 our service team grew from two (2) full-time servicemen to  eleven (11), with additional part-time people.  In 1977, Mike  added a  full-time serviceman, James Voelcker.  At this time, we  represented the 'Ray Burner Co.', 'Superior Boiler', 'Sellers  Engineering', and the 'Powerflame Companies'.  We stared  selling Burnham Boilers in 1973, but didn't officially represent  them until 1981.  Also, we started representing Gordon-Piatt  Burners in 1976.

     In 1984, Stephen "Steve" LaPole became our Service  Manager and Tony Leo retired as Office Manager - after 30+  years with the company.

     As luck would have it, we bought our own building and moved  in 1992 - the year before the "Flood of '93".  This building is  located at 1637 E. 17th Street, in Des Moines.  At this same  time, Jim Silcott retired as our salesman and Stephen "Steve"  Cornwell was brought into the office to fill that position.   In  1996, we opened a branch office in New Hampton, Iowa.  Mark Mulford is doing sales and service in that area.

     In Feburary of 2001, Mike McGuiness retired and Jim  Voelcker was appointed as Manager of our Davenport office.

     After forty-six (46) years of service to this industry, John  McGuiness retired (in October of 2002) and is spending most  of his time with the "love of his life" - golfing! 

     Our history has been one of growth and stability. In excess of  fifty (50) years, we have been committed to serving and meeting  the needs of the industrial/commercial heating market in the state  of Iowa.  Please contact us if there is anything we can do to help  you with your industrial/commercial heating needs!