PROFILE
Eventually mushroom soil became scarce as nobody was growing mushrooms during the Depression .
Always innovative , Tom and his brother Tony found that a good way to make compost was to get leaves and mix them with soil and lime . They switched to selling composted topdressing , but were still challenged to get organic matter for the process .
“ They decided to make a leaf rake that would rake leaves in large quantities . They gave one to the City of Philadelphia in exchange for their leaves , so that they could have free leaves to make composted soil ,” said John .
The brothers , who had started their own company — West Point Products — met with Fred Grau , who was with the U . S . Department of Agriculture at the time . Grau was impressed with their leaf-raking machine and the brothers ’ ability to innovate , but told the Mascaros that what he really needed was a piece of equipment that would tear up bluegrass fairways .
“ When you tear up bluegrass fairways , it grows back better than it was before . Nobody is sure why ; it just does ,” said John . “ They experimented with different ways to tear up bluegrass , and they came up with the Aerifier . It became an immediate success .”
The original Aerifier had no motor — it was just a unit that could be pulled behind a tractor on fairways and greens . Sports field managers soon found that it was a great way to cultivate the soil . West Point Products received the patent for the Aerifier in 1946 and the word was trademarked ( the term has since become generic nomenclature ). The Aerifier became such a success that the Mascaros abandoned the topdressing business and switched to producing equipment full time .
The success of West Point Products continued , as did their knack for innovation . In 1955 , Tom Mascaro invented the Verti-Cut . Originally designed to vertically mow on a weekly basis , golf course superintendents and sports field managers quickly realized they could set the Verti-Cut low and verticut the dead material out of the greens and sports fields ( the term verticut has also become generic terminology in the industry ).
“ During World War II , golf courses couldn ’ t get labor , fuel or even tires , so they stopped topdressing ,” said John . “ After the war , golf greens weren ’ t bad ,
so people assumed they didn ’ t need to topdress anymore . But over time , thatch developed and built up to thick layers on golf greens .” When Tom went to sell a Verti-Cut to a golf course , he would have the golf pro putt across the green . Then Tom would Verti- Cut and let the pro putt again , and the ball would roll true as it eliminated ‘ grain ’ and reduced thatch .
“ Golfers did not like the Aerifier because it took the smooth surface on the putting green and made it rough for a time period ,” said John . “ The opposite was true with the Verti- Cut ; golfers loved that invention .” Tom – who held a Business degree from Lansdale School of Business , and had also studied organic chemistry at Temple University , inorganic chemistry at Drexel University and turf at Penn State University – was always thinking ahead . sportsfieldmanagementonline . com January 2024 | SportsField Management
27