Bloom Manufacturing Inc.;
A History of Innovation, a Future of Promise

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Bloom Manufacturing Inc. in Independence, Iowa has been revolutionizing the way farmers and business owners have done business since 1910.  For over a century, Bloom has been creating, patenting and improving industrial, agriculture and farm based products to help workers ease their workload and increase efficiency and profit.

The company’s founder, J. S. Bloom of Winthrop Iowa, received a patent for a machine for crushing and cutting corn in 1901. The corn crusher and cutter was the first machine produced at the new J. S. Bloom Manufacturing Company in Independence in 1910. In the years to come, J. S. Bloom Manufacturing also became known for its wooden grain moving elevators and other labor saving agricultural devices including The Bloom Stock and Milk Cooling Tanks.

J. S. Bloom Manufacturing Company continued to grow for the next 4 decades. The business was deeded to J.S. Bloom’s daughter Madge (Bloom) Cole and her husband Egbert in 1942.

J. S. Bloom Manufacturing Company was sold to Harold E. Smith in 1954. The growing company became an Iowa corporation named Bloom Inc. in 1963 under new owners H. E. Smith, Grant L. Sundquist and Marlin Smith. In 1964 another patent was issued to Grant Sundquist and Marlin Smith for an “Engine Positioner and Shaft Straightener.” This became one of the many products manufactured under the name ‘Jiffy’ Lawn Mower Repair Tools produced by Bloom. Other tools included the ‘Jiffy’ Lawn Mower Repair Bench and ‘Jiffy’ Swivelock Work Stand. During the 1960’s Bloom began manufacturing other new products including hydraulic winches and speed reducers, gooseneck trailers, and a variety of grain augers including transport augers, U-trough augers, bin unloading augers and gravity box augers.

Dorotha Sundquist joined her husband Grant at Bloom Inc. in 1973 and together they grew the company to 18 employees. A new Bloom manufacturing plant was constructed at its current location west of Independence in 1974. Grant and Dorotha Sundquist owned Bloom until March 31, 2000 when they sold their company to Bloom employees making their employees members of the Bloom ESOP. Bloom’s new president became long-time employee Mark J. H. Collett and Deborah L. Collett joined her husband to become the new Vice-President.

In 2005 Mark J. H. Collett purchased Bloom Mfg. Inc. from the Bloom ESOP and is the current owner.  Bloom’s emphasis today is in the design and manufacturing of industrial and mobile hydraulic winches and hydraulic speed reducers.  Products are marketed under the trademarks of BLOOM™ Winches and LIFT-SAFE® Winches.

Bloom Mfg. Inc now employees over 20 employees. With a strong history of innovation, a strong and competent workforce and an eye on the future of winch manufacturing, Bloom Mfg. Inc. will continue to be a strong and vital force in the economy of Independence and an innovator in the field around the country and the world.

Call Bloom for your answers! (800) 394-1139