Building on a history of innovation

Gilmour is an innovative developer and manufacturer of four full lines of American-made lawn and garden products. Focused on the gardener’s needs, the company creates tools that are efficient, effective, comfortable and easy to use.

The company has more than 300 years combined history in the lawn and garden industry. Each original business brought under the company’s leadership is known for quality and innovation in its product category. They were brought together in a series of acquisitions by Vermont American Corporation in the 1980s.

Pruning Tools

In 1850 Seymour Smith and Son founded a firm to manufacture assorted kinds of hardware. An acquisition of a pruning tool company led to what would become the company’s main product line. The name Snap-Cut became well known as America’s first anvil hand pruner, as it was such a “snap” to use. Continuing on the path of innovation, the company introduced such products as the first gear-driven lopping shears, gear-driven pole pruners and vertical sweep grass shears.

Tank Sprayers

Universal Metal products first opened its doors in 1935. Their first sprayers, made of metal, were introduced in the 1940s. A series of acquisitions and the ability to manufacture plastic led to the introduction of the first polyethylene sprayers. These sprayers featured the name “Yard Doc,” which was later changed to “Spray Doc.”

Product designs continually improved and now include such important features as pressure-release valves, leak-resistant seals, wide tank mouths for ease of maintenance and a cap that safely releases pressure.

Garden Hose

The plant that makes “the last hose you’ll ever buy” was a much different business when it was founded in 1947. Although they were plastic, the products were injection-molded parts for everything from can opener housings to pantyhose containers and car parts. Several different owners added other capabilities, including the production of garden hoses. With a focus on garden hoses, the company set the standard for quality with the introduction of its patented Flexogen hose.

Watering Products

Watering changed forever in 1949 when Robert Gilmour began Gilmour Manufacturing Company and introduced the first pistol grip nozzle. A new owner would continue the focus on quality and innovation. Other Gilmour firsts include the original clamshell-style hose repair, the exceptionally adjustable Pattern Master sprinklers, Select-A-Spray nozzles, no-pre-mix sprayers and rotor sprinklers with multi-jet nozzles.

Gilmour now is headquartered in Somerset, Pennsylvania, home of the original Gilmour plant, with additional manufacturing in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. With a rich history of gardening innovation, Gilmour constantly challenges itself to meet the needs of gardeners for today and tomorrow.