#HTE

Mechanical Engineering Student, After Constantly Fixing Wife’s Food Truck, Invents New Multitool

“My wife was running her food truck, The Coop, while I was finishing my degree in mechanical engineering,” writes Michael Newman. “I had to go and fix things for her regularly, so I began to carry more tools on me, trying to make quick fixes and get back to studying.

"One day, under the counter working on a leak, frustrated with the nut and bolt prowess of the multi-tool I always carried, the idea for the Omnilock began to take shape in my head. I decided to try and design my dream multi-tool, one that could take advantage of the new wrench design to the fullest.”

Here’s what Newman came up with:

Newman’s startup, Toler Tools, successfully crowdfunded the Union last year. They’re now taking pre-orders. “I’m very happy with the results, and I’ve not carried another tool since the first Union prototypes were built.”

In a strange coincidence, this is the second origin story of a multitool we’ve heard that starts with a husband and wife dealing with a broken-down vehicle. The source of the first story? Tim Leatherman.