The Tool is a sixty-inch triple chrome-plated adjustable pipe wrench, forged by the Ridge Tool Company of Elyria, OH, USA. It is the only known fully chromed pipe wrench of its type in the world, and is the mascot of the University of Waterloo Engineering Society. Its history goes back to the early days of the University. In the late 1960s, the Engineering Society had no official mascot. Being barely 10 year old, the Society decided to begin the process of selecting and acquiring an object that would become the Society’s official mascot and icon – something to represent the immense pride and spirit that Waterloo Engineering had. Several ideas were discussed, but the two most popular ideas for a mascot were a pipe wrench (a symbol of the “Plummer and Proud of It” attitude championed by Ken Loach, Chemical ’71), and a sword. Through a public vote in meetings of both Society “A” and Society “B”, it was determined that the wrench would be the mascot, and it would be big. Jim Pike, Society “A” President at the time, then began the search for the new mascot, and while on a co-op work term, found a suitable choice: the Ridge Tool Company’s straight pipe wrench model No. 60. However, at a cost of $350, it was unattainable for the young Engineering Society. Jim decided to send a letter to the Ridge Tool Company and explain what they wanted to do, what the wrench would mean to the society, and if they would donate one. The company’s response was an overwhelming “yes” with only two conditions: that it would be known as “The Ridgid Tool”, and that it would retain its original orange colours out of respect for the Ridge Tool Company. The Tool was chromed within a few hours of Pike picking it up from the supplier in the summer of 1968, although he admits that he “should have had a Chemical Engineer along to explain what happens to orange paint in a chrome dip.” As for the name “The Ridgid Tool”, he won’t say what exactly happened, except that it did get lots of mileage and notoriety before the official name change. With The Tool coming to the University of Waterloo, it was determined that a group of dedicated students was needed to protect it and thus, the Action Committee was formed. It was their duty to be the official guardians of the Tool in public and in private. Over time, these students came to be known as Tool Bearers, and the Action Committee was dissolved. There are no publicly known details about the Tool Bearers today, except that whenever the Tool is around, they are as well, silently guarding it in their black and gold uniform.

I used a large pipe wrench for the job. In order to get some leverage I attached the spindle to the wheel (two bolts in) and stood on it holding the strut housing under my foot while wielding the wrench. The gland nut came out without problem.