Craftsman Speed Spinner Ratchet

[traumadoc2b]

To the point about it not working that great for cars with tight spaces, remember that if this came out in the 60's, there was a heck of a lot more room inside the engine compartment!

On another note, although this doesn't address the collector factor, it doesn't look like it'd be too hard to make one of these. Trim the handle off of a 3/8" ratchet, grind and polish it off, weld the piece you cut off to the other side, then cut and weld the swivel off of a speed handle onto it, and viola!

My Dad used to make all kinds of tools for use at home and in his auto shop. You can do a lot with you imagination, spare parts, a welder, and a grinder.

 

[woody 73]

Wow now that Craftsman are being made in china poor mickey O must be in a state of shock...

I picked up that speeder back a few years ago for something like $3.00 dollars and you guys are telling me it is going for over $100.00 dollars just out of this world.

 

[3baygarage]

Good grief! What's the record high?

 

[jakemac]

I think we may be seeing it.

 

[Mgnu]

Here's another one up for bid:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/221472724103?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

already hit $200 !!!

Well, it is from a non-smoking home after all....

 

[Richard Cranium]

this one looks a little rougher, I see some pitting around the V selector

 

[jakemac]

That one sold with only 1 bid for $79.99. Interesting considering all that activity of the previous one.

That's the way they go on ebay. They run hot and cold, but rarely go cheap.

 

[gtlaw]

Am I the only one who thinks these things are stupid and wouldn't have one even if it was for free ?

 

[zkling]

Am I the only one who thinks these things are stupid and wouldn't have one even if it was for free ?

IDK, I'd just like to try one out of curosity sake. I can't really grasp if they would be useful or not. I'm and odd duck using smaller than 1/2" breaker bars and speeders on a regular basis so. The fact that they aren't in modern tool makers line ups make me question their usefulness.

 

[gearhead1]

I got one from ebay a couple weeks ago, shipped under $100. I'm going to check it out and see how it does. I think it will be useful in certain situations.

 

[Jim C.]

That one sold with only 1 bid for $79.99. Interesting considering all that activity of the previous one.

The one that recently sold for $260+ was in gem mint, practically unused condition. Several people placed bids. It still sold for crazy money if you ask me, but it was also the nicest one I've seen. The one that sold for $79.99 was in good condition but wasn't near being gem mint. ******** collectors will pay insane prices for NOS, unused tools.

Jim C.

 

[Beerman]

Collectors are well...Collectors. It's not about having it to use, it's about completing your collection.

These spinners were only made for a few years and are in relatively short supply. Top that off with the fact that a bunch of people collect Craftsman and that explains the high prices.

FWIW, I live by two major flea markets and I've seen made one or two of those spinners in 20+ years of regular attendance.


Beerman

 

[Richard Cranium]

I tried to trade one of mine, to a member for his craftsman wall tool cabinet, He wouldn't trade, he got hung up on shipping. So find me a craftsman wall tool cabinet and I will trade you one of mine.

 

[softailgarage]

There appears a plethora of these on ebay right now.

1. rough and rusty - bidding starting at a mere 99 cents.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Craftsman-9...463?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c434de43f

2. 15 bids up to $75
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Cra...131003132420&rk=1&rkt=6&sd=161351406689&rt=nc

3. nice looking one here only $69 bid right now
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Cra...131003132420&rk=2&rkt=6&sd=161351406689&rt=nc

4. not a single clear picture of this one and buy it now $200
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...akeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en

In case Ebay takes it down, here are the final results-

1. $113.61
2. $132.50
3. $152.50
4. (fixed it fer ya) $200.00 scratched out and was sold for "best offer", no price given.

 

[jakemac]

Well, I found one in the wild for the first time ever. Unfortunately its a basket case.
View media item 38438It's rusted solid. I'll try to recover it, but it may be soaking for months before I can free it up. It will never again be a gem, but if I'm lucky maybe I can at least make it functional again.

I got it as part of a bundle for $5, so I only paid pennies for it.
Thank goodness I still have the one I paid through the nose for.

 

[bigcaddy]

Well, I found one in the wild for the first time ever. Unfortunately its a basket case.
View media item 38438It's rusted solid. I'll try to recover it, but it may be soaking for months before I can free it up. It will never again be a gem, but if I'm lucky maybe I can at least make it functional again.

I got it as part of a large bundle for $5, so I only paid pennies for it.
Thank goodness I still have the one I paid through the nose for.

That will clean right up, jake. There might be some pits but it's definitely restorable. If you are serious about making it look nice, pm me and I might be able to make the chrome new again.

 

[zkling]

May I join the club? Garage sale find today.

 

[jakemac]

That will clean right up, jake. There might be some pits but it's definitely restorable. If you are serious about making it look nice, pm me and I might be able to make the chrome new again.

Cleaning and derusting shouldn't be a problem, and I should be able to polish the areas where the chrome is missing. But it's the seized inner workings I'll have problems with. The last ratchet I had that was in this shape took weeks of soaking for me to free up, and then I had to break the thin clips to get it open. I'll need to keep any eye open for a donor pre QR ratchet for the parts.

Just looking at it makes me want to cry, but I couldn't leave it behind to be scrapped. [shudder]

Just out of curiosity, what was your plan for the chrome ?

May I join the club? Garage sale find today.

Why ask ? You're already in !

 

[bigcaddy]

If the handle can be removed, I could include it with a batch of items I have getting chromed. I usually have a few batches sent out every year for various projects and I could probably include the ratchet

 

[jakemac]

Ahhhhh, I see. The handle is peened on, unfortunately.

I gave it a light touch on the wire wheel. The chrome isn't as bad as I first though, but there's still a lot missing on the end. I should be able to polish it up clean, so it won't look too bad. I'm more concerned with getting the guts out. Time will tell.

 

[Outlawmws]

Ahhhhh, I see. The handle is peened on, unfortunately.

I gave it a light touch on the wire wheel. The chrome isn't as bad as I first though, but there's still a lot missing on the end. I should be able to polish it up clean, so it won't look too bad. I'm more concerned with getting the guts out. Time will tell.

Jake I'd bet that ISN"T Peened. The heads at both ends are too Purdy.

My guess is that they used two press fit Mail/Female pins, and they are pressed in. and I'll go further and say between the press fit and the resulting years of rust, the handle would be broken if you attempted to remove the handle.

BC, can the plater leave the plastic handle in the plating tank? I'd bet that would still work...

 

[jakemac]

Well, I just got back from checking my super secret parts stash. I had to sneak past the living trees in the magic forest, feed the dragon, and kick the three headed dog in the nuts, but once I finally remembered which gargoyle to poke in the eye to open the door, I found that I have all the parts I need to rebuild the ratchet.

Now I just need to get the damned thing apart.



Outlaw - You're probably right, I wasn't planning on playing with the handle anyway though.

 

[toolmaven]

I have to get over to the shop and get some pictures. I have one Craftsman and one Herbrand, with a fixed long shank and a transparent turquoise plastic rotating handle on the shank. I've used them both from time to time. I like the Herbrand with a tap socket as a tap wrench, the rotating guide-handle keeps it steadier, but it is longer. Oh, I got the Craftsman at the Lacon trade day (flea market) for about $10. I've also been looking for the extinct Craftsman L-handles, particularly a 1/2" drive. Was there ever a 1/4"?

 

[AceofSpad3s]

I want one now, I use socket wrenches for pretty much anything I possibly can.

 

[jakemac]

It only took me 3 months to get the Speeder apart and restored. I just finished it today.

More pictures here :
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4505622#post4505622

 

[Mopar-Scooby-Doo]

Well I have finally got my hands on one of these little gems.
Anyways this was my uncles. He found out how much I'm into tools and decided I could get more use out of it than he would now a days. So with that said I will put this to good use. As for the ball end I have not asked if this was done by him or what? All I know is I really like it.

 

[jakemac]

The ball handle definitely isn't OEM, but it's an interesting mod nonetheless.

 

[Banjorear]

What that looks like is a Herbrand No. J-9 3/8" drive Speedratchet without the extension. Moore Drop Forge probably made the Craftsman version under contract.

See also: http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/herbrand-van-chrome-p3.html

"The overall length is 12.0 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

The ratchet mechanism has a 20-tooth drive gear, and the slide shifter moves along the axis of the handle to alternately deactivate one of the contoured pawls."

The inventor in his patent called it a COMBINED BRACE, WRENCH, T-WRENCH, AND RATCHET.

Check out the "Tool of the Month" 1949.

Love the extension with the wooden handle. I could use that all day.

 

[PelicanPines]

WON a blue handle one on ebay for $80... Will add pics when it arrives... looks fairly clean in ebay pics and works !!!

Update: Ratchet just arrived... it's alot cleaner than pictured on ebay. Blue Handle !!!

The blue handle shows some drawer rash and the tools workings are very smooth. Needs to be lubricated, it sounds dry in there.

 

[fordgasm]

you ****.

 

[Jim C.]

Well, after a couple years of looking for the right one, I FINALLY found it.

Jim C.

 

[jakemac]

Lookin' good, Jim. Welcome to the club.

 

[sha]

Well, after a couple years of looking for the right one, I FINALLY found it.

Jim C.

Lucky. Congrats

 

[Jim C.]

Lookin' good, Jim. Welcome to the club.

Thanks Jake......admission into the club isn't cheap.....

Jim C.

 

[59apachegail]

I was finally able to find one on a budget It worked fine when I got it but was a little rough. A bunch of cleaning buffing and greasing later.

Any one know why some have blue handles and others are black?

 

[anndel]

You guys would **** less if you had an extra... cough... wink... It's one of my wish list items as well.

Hey Secret Santa is coming up right

 

[Richard Cranium]

I don't think that the Secret Santa has given many of these away.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I have one of the two I purchased at the yard sale on display in my craftsman wall cabinet.
It is a work in progress. Don't beat up on me about it, I will find more parts to put into it..

 

[jakemac]

Any one know why some have blue handles and others are black?

No-one has come up with an answer yet.

 

[59apachegail]

No-one has come up with an answer yet.

Thanks Jake!
I guess the fact that the sales books are not in color doesn't help.