SPRINKLER TALK FORUM - You Got Questions, We've Got Answers

TISMAz is a moniker for The Irrigation Specialist, Mfg., Arizona.

I've been involved in the water industry in one capacity or another since 1958 when I worked after school with a local plumber. By 1960 I was installing sprinkler systems for pin money on the side (only 2 in galvanized, and one in copper.) Thank God, PVC was becoming the rage. Even thru' college, sprinklers got me by for income and eventually it became full time in the early '70's.... My degree went to the wayside, unused. Such was life as irrigation paid a LOT more than R&D in the plastics industry at the time!!

Having "been the route" in the trades and having held both General Building and Landscaping contractor's licenses in central California for 15 years, I Ultimately ended up in Arizona after 5 years in the middle east working in the irrigation AND potable water industries. (Divorce is a nasty thing......)

I moved to Phoenix 25 years ago and put in a short stint (almost 5 years) with one of the largest landscape companies in the world. EXCELLENT experience on commercial systems!!
I've been strictly a troubleshooter and repair guy ever since. Local talent and cheap labor kept me out of the construction end of the business. I didn't care to compete 'cuz there were very few, true troubleshooters in the Valley of the Sun back then! The field was wide open!

Consequently, my many years of exposure to the problems connected with sprinkler systems have made me aware that many specialty tools were needed. Finally, I invented a couple of items for my personal use (with some input from close friends in the industry, I might add,) and after a couple of years cajoling by those buddies, I went into manufacturing as a sideline out of my little one car garage/hobby shop. I LOVE electrical problems and the challenge they provide. Being an old, ex-Ham Radio man, the knowledge gave me the basics needed to tackle them...

Thanks to folks like the Sprinkler Guy and most of the local suppliers, my products are being sold and doing fairly well. After about a decade, they are now throughout the West and Southwest, Gulf Coast States, and a smattering in the rest of the USA. Getting past the wholesale buyers, tho', is my biggest challenge. They aren't FIELD people and don't see the need for specialty tools unless there's a huge call for them at a retail level. And if you don’t KNOW about the tools, you can’t REQUEST them!!

ANYBODY that has used ANY of my products, especially the Krik-It and the Suck-Tube, can attest to their capabilities. Once used, they can't live without them!!!

Soooo… I hope I can help out here on this forum. I’ll try to check in as often as possible….

Cheers… Bill