Bryant Furnace History: The Story of “Let the Pup Be Your Furnace Man”

Back in 1904, a man named Charles Bryant started a company in Cleveland, Ohio, with a simple goal: to make home heating more reliable and efficient. At a time when many people were still using wood or coal to stay warm, Bryant saw a better way: gas-powered heating that was cleaner, safer, and easier to control.

As the years went on, more and more homes turned to Bryant for warmth. By the 1920s and ’30s, Bryant furnaces were becoming a household name. They earned a reputation for solid engineering and dependable performance, which meant a lot during cold winters in the Midwest and beyond. In 1927 and up to the late 50’s, Bryant had developed the iconic “Let The Pup Be Your Furnaceman” slogan featuring a Boston Terrier front and center on their emblems. In (Fig. A) we can see one of their earlier badges which had consisted of a large dataplate found on their furnaces and (Fig. B) showing what the emblem would’ve looked like on their boilers.

In this same time period we also saw what their emblems would’ve looked like that would have been found front and center on their furnace units. These particular styles were available in three colors depending on the price range and how many “Bells and Whistles” you wanted with your furnace. Blue (Fig. C) was the most economical option, Red (Fig. D) was a mid-range furnace while the coveted black emblem was the most expensive option a homeowner could go with and came in three distinct patterns based on what the manufacturer had available (Fig. E), (Fig. F) and (Fig. G).

Fig. G

In 1955, Bryant joined forces with Carrier, the company founded by the inventor of modern air conditioning, Willis Carrier. That partnership helped Bryant expand beyond heating and become a true HVAC powerhouse that offered both heating and cooling solutions under one trusted name. Following this merger they got rid of the old pup and rebranded for a look that resonated with the change. These emblems would also embody many of their other products they started offering like water heaters. Bryant produced both an aluminum (Fig. H) and plastic (Fig. I) emblem that could be found on every brand of product they offered. On top of that following into the 80’s Bryant along with other products offered under the Carrier umbrella opted for a square design for their products (Fig. J) and a lettering design (Fig. K).

Through the decades, Bryant kept improving. Their furnaces got smarter, more energy-efficient, and better at keeping homes comfortable year-round. By the 2000s, Bryant systems came with smart thermostats, variable-speed blowers, and energy ratings that made them a favorite among homeowners who wanted both comfort and savings.