History
Bert Tighe started Ti-SALES in 1963…
…selling waterworks supplies out of his basement with the help of his wife Edna and their three young sons. His vision was to give the best service in the water and wastewater industry in the Northeast, and to build a reputation so strong that it would be recognized by customers, suppliers, and even our competitors.
Today, we have 30 full-time employees, ten of whom are on the road constantly throughout New England and upstate New York. We service hundreds of water utilities, contractors, consultants, and resellers throughout our territory, all from our sole location in Sudbury. Meter reading and water infrastructure technology has changed a lot in the last 50 years, but Bert’s vision for our company still rings just as true and guides our ongoing commitment to faster, better, and smarter service.
Navigation
Use the buttons below to jump to any time period. Navigate through the photos within that time period to see Ti-SALES throughout the years.
The 1960s
January 4, 1963
Bert received his first order from Al Stone of the Northboro, MA Water Department.
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January, 1963
The first letter Bert sent out in January 1963 to his potential customers.
We still strive to provide “quality products” and “dependable service” each and every day.
March 27, 1965
Moving day!
March 28, 1965
Kevin Tighe, behind the desk in 1965. Kevin went on to become President of Ti-SALES in the 1990s.
This room is now the break room.
October 10, 1965
The loading dock of the original Ti-SALES building. We have expanded multiple times over the years.
May 7, 1968
Cast iron fittings and boxes ready for our customers.
June, 1968
Bert with Ford Meter Box president Hank Leander in 1968.
1969
Kevin Tighe installing our upgraded water service in 1969.
The 1970s
1971
The loading dock in use. Ford Meter Box remains one of our primary product lines today.
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1976
Foss Tighe, Bert’s youngest son, on Ti-SALES’s first forklift in 1976.
June, 1977
Ti-SALES hosts Open Houses every five years for customers to see our operation and meet our staff.
The 1980s
1982
Ti-SALES visiting Neptune in Alabama in 1982.
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1982
Ti-SALES has expanded our space multiple times over the years to better serve our customers.
1982
The iconic “hole” in the dock wall shortly after it was poured in 1982.
1983
Advertising our completed expansion in 1983.
June, 1986
Ti-SALES Open House in 1986, with vendor displays and product demonstrations.
July, 1988
Ti-SALES was featured as Associate Member of the Month in UCANE’s Construction Outlook Magazine in 1988.
The 1990s
Kevin and Don on booth duty.
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Bert and Hank Leander, former President of Ford Meter Box.
They had a lasting friendship that began in the 1960’s.
The 2000s
July, 2001
Ti-SALES Board of Directors meeting in 2001.
Future President and owner of Ti-SALES, Marty Mazzella to Bert’s right.
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Chuck DiLaura, President of Neptune, sharing a laugh with Bert Tighe.
The 2010s
2012
Ti-SALES received the NEWWA Sponsor of the Year Award in 2012.
Accepting are Bert, Kevin and then-NEWWA President Dave Harris.
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June 20, 2012
Edna Tighe joined us for lunch with Neptune.
Kevin and Bert proudly displaying Ti-SALES stock of American AVK hydrants.
Kevin explaining how our custom-made Ford Meter Box test bench works.
2013
Peter Tighe, Jack Doyle (former Ti-SALES Board member) and Kevin in 2013.
2013
Bert Tighe enjoying an Open House with Neptune rep Dave Johnson and our customers.
2013
Bert receives an achievement award from Jen Pederson of MWWA in 2013.
2013
Kevin and Bert in 2013.
2013
Don Ladd, former Vice President, at an Open House.
2013
Jesse Hirons, our Director of Warehouse & Maintenance, enjoying the open house with colleagues and customers.
2013
Long-time customer Rob Longo, Romana Longo of CTAWWA, and Ti-SALES Director of Accounting Janet Foley.
Joe Coulter making an announcement.
June 4, 2014
In 2014 we completed another expansion, doubling the size of our back warehouse.
2014
Bert Tighe receiving recognition for 60 years of membership in the Massachusetts Water Works Association (MWWA).
Ti-SALES was the first company to have three
NEWWA Kenneth O. Hodgson Award Recipients.
- Left: Bert Tighe, 1996
- Top right: Louis Schoolcraft, 2009
- Bottom right: Kevin Tighe, 2011
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We still love our open houses!
- Top: 1980
- Bottom: 2013
We’ve grown, but we still hold to the same values we were founded on.
- Top left: 1973
- Bottom left: 1998
- Right: 2012
Remembering our founder, Bert Tighe (1924-2017), pictured here with wife Edna Tighe.