About Camblin Mechanical of Atlantic, IA

Lou Camblin founds Camblin Plumbing and Heating after World War 1 using a $1,000 loan he received from his mother.

Camblin Plumbing and Heating moves out of Lou’s house into the basement of the Wood and Savery Abstract Office at 6th and Chestnut Street.

The stock market crashes. Business holds together through the crash till 1933.

Lou’s son, Wayne, begins to work for the family business.

World War II begins. Wayne Camblin leaves the business to do defense work.

After the war ends, Camblin Plumbing and Heating moves to 307 Chestnut Street, where it is still located.

Lou Camblin passes away and Wayne buys and takes over running the business.

Bob Camblin, Wayne’s oldest son, begins to work for the family business, eventually becoming the vice president and general manager.

Camblin Plumbing and Heating Incorporates

Bob Camblin meets with the Governor of Iowa, Robert D. Ray.

Camblin secures their first $1 million job in Atlantic at the Gould Factory.

Camblin secures a project at Ft. Riley, Kansas. Camblin’s first out of state job.

The business expands to a second office in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas to serve that region of the midwest.

The Atlantic location is doing so well with a number of big projects that Camblin closes the Kansas office

Camblin Plumbing and Heating divides into two corporations. The residential division becomes Camblin Plumbing and Heating Inc. and the commercial division becomes Camblin Mechanical Inc.

Camblin continues to serve the Southwest Iowa region as the preferred Commercial heating, cooling and plumbing provider.

In May 2017 we moved to our new offices and the Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors performed the ribbon cutting at the new location.

Camblin Mechanical celebrates 100 year anniversary

Robert (Bob) Camblin was the third generation Camblin to operate Camblin Mechanical. Through junior and senior high school, he helped his father, Wayne, with projects. After high school, he attended Simpson College and graduated with a degree in math and physics; still returning to help at Camblin’s during his breaks after Simpson College, Bob enlisted in the Navy and reported to OCS in Newport, RI. After OCS, Bob has commissioned an Ensign in the Navy with an engineering duty designator. He served aboard the USS Yorktown (CVS-10) for one year as Main Engines Officer and then at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard as a Ship Superintendent for 2 ½ years. When his term was up, Bob enrolled in Iowa State University – graduating with distinction in 1965 with a Mechanical Engineering degree. After working for one year for Iowa Illinois Gas & Electric in their power plant engineering division, Bob joined his father full-time and started the process of becoming the current President of Camblin Mechanical, Inc. Bob passed away in November 2023 as the Chairman of the Board.

President, Chief Operations Officer

Randy started working on an Iowa farm in junior high school and stayed on to help with operations for nearly 20 years as a herdsman and farrowing operations manager. After high school, Randy went on to trade school to become a Certified Diesel Mechanic. He used this training on the farm and as a mechanic in his repair shop. In 1994, he started working for Camblin Mechanical as a mechanical installer. Over the next 18 years, he progressed into a lead man, foreman, and eventually estimator and project manager. In 2000, Randy became a Shareholder in Camblin Mechanical Inc and began working closely with Bob Camblin, eventually acquiring the skills necessary to become the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in 2012.