Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Today we're chronicling the history of the Ridge Tool Company, the company that de-throned Stillson as America's pipe wrench.
Stillson Wrench Lore Video: youtu.be/tQsKvmDExxc&list=PL-fhNrtmTAv286gDzTcav8FyxCagDTouy
Join this channel to get access to perks: youtube.com/channel/UCqlO54ZdQjkkjpgD1yWaWgQ/join
Pin-Up Calendars:
se.pinterest.com/ridgideurope/the-ridgid-calendar
pinterest.com/bobhemi/rigid-tool-girls
dangerousminds.net/tag/Ridgid-Tool-Calendar
archive.neonbubble.com/article/ridgid-tools-calendars
flickr.com/photos/umpqua/albums/917376
2017 Calendar Video: facebook.com/watch/?v=10155785432853206
Mechanical Hub Making of an Icon video: youtube.com/watch?v=VD8thVlIZP8
Wm Thewes Patents: patents.google.com/?inventor=William+O+Thewes&sort=old
Old Ridgid Catalogs: archive.org/search?query=creator%3A%22Ridge+Tool+Co.%22
1923 Factory Photo: google.com/books/edition/North_Ridgeville/EteRPtBEMi4C?hl=en&gbpv=1
1940 Factory Photo: google.com/books/edition/Elyria/4qxqBAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=ridge+tool+company&pg=PA44&printsec=frontcover
Modern Plant Photos: contractormag.com/tools/hand-tools/media-gallery/20882133/ridgid-manufacturing-plant-tour
Wm Thewes RIP 1941: google.com/books/edition/The_Tool_Engineer/QpgjAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=william+thewes&pg=RA12-PA137&printsec=frontcover
1964 Desmond Stephan Vises: google.com/books/edition/hardware_retailer_january_1964/dqnz6hPQ2fYC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=ridge+tool+company&pg=RA27-PP7&printsec=frontcover
1980 FTC Lawsuit: google.com/books/edition/Federal_Register/6I-2hx1oRc0C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=ridge+tool+company&pg=PA13841&printsec=frontcover
Intro Tune is "Cowboy Sting" by Kevin MacLeod
Cowboy Sting by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Chapters:
00:00 Parody Intro
00:32 William Thewes
01:50 Ridge Tool Company
02:43 The Calendars
03:59 Other Designs
05:15 Emerson Electric
05:49 FTC Lawsuit
06:51 Moar Calendars
07:31 TTi Power Tools
07:58 Elyria Ohio Plant
08:33 Outro
Today we're chronicling the history of the Ridge Tool Company, the company that de-throned Stillson as America's pipe wrench.
Stillson Wrench Lore Video: youtu.be/tQsKvmDExxc&list=PL-fhNrtmTAv286gDzTcav8FyxCagDTouy
Join this channel to get access to perks: youtube.com/channel/UCqlO54ZdQjkkjpgD1yWaWgQ/join
Pin-Up Calendars:
se.pinterest.com/ridgideurope/the-ridgid-calendar
pinterest.com/bobhemi/rigid-tool-girls
dangerousminds.net/tag/Ridgid-Tool-Calendar
archive.neonbubble.com/article/ridgid-tools-calendars
flickr.com/photos/umpqua/albums/917376
2017 Calendar Video: facebook.com/watch/?v=10155785432853206
Mechanical Hub Making of an Icon video: youtube.com/watch?v=VD8thVlIZP8
Wm Thewes Patents: patents.google.com/?inventor=William+O+Thewes&sort=old
Old Ridgid Catalogs: archive.org/search?query=creator%3A%22Ridge+Tool+Co.%22
1923 Factory Photo: google.com/books/edition/North_Ridgeville/EteRPtBEMi4C?hl=en&gbpv=1
1940 Factory Photo: google.com/books/edition/Elyria/4qxqBAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=ridge+tool+company&pg=PA44&printsec=frontcover
Modern Plant Photos: contractormag.com/tools/hand-tools/media-gallery/20882133/ridgid-manufacturing-plant-tour
Wm Thewes RIP 1941: google.com/books/edition/The_Tool_Engineer/QpgjAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=william+thewes&pg=RA12-PA137&printsec=frontcover
1964 Desmond Stephan Vises: google.com/books/edition/hardware_retailer_january_1964/dqnz6hPQ2fYC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=ridge+tool+company&pg=RA27-PP7&printsec=frontcover
1980 FTC Lawsuit: google.com/books/edition/Federal_Register/6I-2hx1oRc0C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=ridge+tool+company&pg=PA13841&printsec=frontcover
Intro Tune is "Cowboy Sting" by Kevin MacLeod
Cowboy Sting by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Chapters:
00:00 Parody Intro
00:32 William Thewes
01:50 Ridge Tool Company
02:43 The Calendars
03:59 Other Designs
05:15 Emerson Electric
05:49 FTC Lawsuit
06:51 Moar Calendars
07:31 TTi Power Tools
07:58 Elyria Ohio Plant
08:33 Outro
