Waterloo Tool Liberation (1982)
University of Toronto engineering students stole the Waterloo Tool, mascot of the University of Waterloo Faculty of Engineering, in January of 1982.
The Tool
"The Tool", for those unacquainted, is a 60″ long triple-chromed pipe wrench made by the Ridge Tool Company (known for its Ridgid brand of hand tools and power tools). This particular tool is a 42-year-old specimen that now serves as the mascot of the University of Waterloo Engineering Society.
Forged in Elyria, Ohio, the $350 Tool was donated to the then cash-strapped UWaterloo in 1967 by the Ridge Tool Company on two conditions: that it be named “The Ridgid Tool” and that it be kept in its original Ridgid orange and black colours. Waterloo, of course, took these to heart – and promptly dipped the whole thing in a bath of chrome just hours after its reception. The “Ridgid” brand name was dropped shortly thereafter.
1982 Theft
Following the Welcome Back Stag (a Waterloo social night to kick off the winter term), the Tool was driven back in a convoy of vehicles. However, the lead Tool Bearer made an unexpected stop by himself before reaching their destination. It was then that University of Toronto engineering students attacked him and stole the Tool.
The Tool was kept in secret by members of the Brute Force Committee, who took numerous photos of the Tool, including one with the Skule Cannon placed on top of the Tool.
Following two months of negotiations between the schools, it was finally returned on March 4th, 1982, just before the Iron Ring Ceremony at Waterloo. It was returned encased in a 45-gallon drum of concrete.
The Tool Bearers at Waterloo, with the help of their Frosh, worked through the night to free the Tool from the concrete, and succeeded only to find that "U of T" had been engraved into it.
Shortly after, the Tool was re-chromed to cover up the damage caused by the Tool liberation.
The Tool has not been stolen since.