They call me the Master Iceman

They call me the Master Iceman. I run Columbia Ice, A Uniquely Canadian Ice Company in Alberta. Really the only Canadian owned option for packaged ice delivery in Alberta. Arctic Glacier Edmonton and Arctic Glacier ice in Calgary, the big American owned ice company, is the competition.

Columbia Ice is a flea, trying to become a mouse, competing against the elephant, Arctic Glacier... as much a flea competes with an elephant.

I am my own boss for the most part. There is an owner, Jake, he is cool to deal with. He looks like the Daredevil in the TV series. I am convinced by night, he fights crime. Would be rather cool if he did. He bought Columbia Ice a few months ago from Ernie Graveline who owned the company for the past 14 teen years. Transition has gone well, still tidying up loose ends which is to be expected when you sell a company.

I have tried X, I have tried Youtube, Tiktok and Instagram as a way to communicate my story but I really dislike social media. I am old school, I like to write, I like to blog, even if nobody reads this blog or knows what a blog is anymore. Call it a public dairy of my story in ice, the story of Columbia Ice, the story of running an NSF audited food facility. I will delve into a variety of topics other than ice so please don't typecast me. My grammer will be that of a 48 year old frostbitten mind who has had too much craft beer in his life. I hope you enjoy these blog posts, please subscribe, ask questions, share on social media.

Here is an old video I did back in the day when Ernie was the owner.

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The Icy Artistry: How Tube Commercial Ice Makers Like Vogt’s Craft Perfect Ice

When you grab a handful of cylindrical ice tubes from a bag or watch them tumble into your drink at a restaurant, you might not think about the engineering marvel behind them. Tube ice—those hollow, uniform cylinders—is a staple in industries from hospitality to packaged ice production, and machines like Vogt’s tube ice makers have been perfecting the process since the 1930s. But how exactly do these commercial powerhouses turn water into those sleek, hollow tubes? Let’s break down the fascinating mechanics of tube ice makers and explore why they’ve become an industry standard. The Basics of Tube Ice Tube ice is distinct for its shape: a cylinder with a hollow core, typically 1–2 inches long and varying in diameter (often 7/8" to 1-1/2"). This design offers a high surface area for rapid cooling, making it ideal for beverages, food preservation, and industrial uses like concrete cooling. Unlike cube or flake ice, tube ice is produced in a specialized process that Vogt pioneere...

The History of Kold-Draft Ice Machines: Crafting the Perfect Cube

Picture this: a bartender drops a crystal-clear, perfectly square ice cube into your drink. It clinks against the glass, melts slowly, and keeps your cocktail crisp without watering it down. That’s the magic of Kold-Draft ice machines—a name that’s been synonymous with top-tier ice for nearly 70 years. Born in Erie, Pennsylvania, Kold-Draft didn’t just make ice; they redefined it, turning a basic necessity into a craft. Let’s take a frosty trip through the history of Kold-Draft ice machines and see how they froze their way into legend. The Cool Beginnings: 1950s Erie Kold-Draft’s story starts in 1955, in the industrial heart of Erie, Pennsylvania. The company sprang from the Schramm family, whose roots were in Schramm, Inc., a business known since 1900 for building rugged air compressors and pumps. After World War II, with refrigeration tech booming, the Schramm crew spotted a new opportunity. Why not use their engineering chops to tackle ice? Thus, Kold-Draft was born—a name that no...

The History of the Vogt Ice Maker: A Frozen Revolution

When you pop an ice cube into your drink or marvel at a perfectly chilled dessert, you might not think about the engineering behind it. But for over 85 years, Vogt Ice has been a name synonymous with ice-making innovation. From its game-changing invention in 1938 to its global reach today, the Vogt ice maker’s history is a cool tale of ingenuity, durability, and a relentless pursuit of quality. Let’s crack open the story of how Vogt turned ice into an art form—and a science. The Spark of a New Era The Vogt ice maker story begins in Louisville, Kentucky, with the Henry Vogt Machine Company, a firm already known for crafting heavy-duty industrial equipment by the early 20th century. Founded in 1880 by German immigrant Henry Vogt, the company had built a reputation for forging everything from steam engines to valves. But in 1938, Vogt engineers took a bold leap into uncharted territory: they invented the world’s first automatic sized ice machine, dubbed the Tube-Ice Machine. Before thi...

Born of Ice - Day in the life of an iceman

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