Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago

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It turns out, Ridgid did NOT invent the aluminum pipe wrench.
A guy named Herbert Schick invented it, back in the 1950's, or maybe earlier.
Today we'll check out one of his wrenches, and try to dig into the story behind his company, Schick Products.
Shick's design even features more aluminum, and was 60% lighter than a traditional steel/iron pipe wrench.

Check out the full Tool Lore playlist here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-fhNrtmTAv286gDzTcav8FyxCagDTouy

Stillson Pipe Wrench History: youtu.be/tQsKvmDExxc&list=PL-fhNrtmTAv286gDzTcav8FyxCagDTouy
Ridgid Pipe Wrench History: youtu.be/3pcTSzNPbNE&list=PL-fhNrtmTAv286gDzTcav8FyxCagDTouy

Join this channel to get access to perks: youtube.com/channel/UCqlO54ZdQjkkjpgD1yWaWgQ/join

Garage Journal Thread: garagejournal.com/forum/threads/schick-wrenches-razors-facts-fiction.485727

1958 Pipe Wrench Ad: books.google.com/books?id=Qt8DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA210&dq=schick+aluminum+pipe+wrench&hl=en&sa=X

1963 Pipe Wrench Ad: books.google.com/books?id=qS0DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA174&dq=schick+aluminum+pipe+wrench&hl=en&sa=X

Herbert Schick Patents: patents.google.com/?inventor=herbert+schick&country=US

Schick Trademark: tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=72211105&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch

Schick Bought by SIFCO 1968, CA Plant Closed Down 1971: google.com/books/edition/Metals_Week/eLZNAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=sifco+schick&dq=sifco+schick&printsec=frontcover

SIFCO Company History: company-histories.com/SIFCO-Industries-Inc-Company-History.html

Alaska Pipeline: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Alaska_Pipeline_System

1959 Schick Ads:
p96: archive.org/details/modern-metals_1959-10_15_9/page/96/mode/2up
p216: archive.org/details/sim_heating-piping-air-conditioning-engineering-hpac_1959-10_31_10/page/n215/mode/2up

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:55 Weight Comparison
01:52 Razor Blade WWII Theory
02:55 Schick Products
04:44 Alaska Pipeline Theory
06:52 Alcoa Connection?
07:22 "Restoration" after shots