Snap/on M-44 speeder

[deanfedwards]

I just picked up a M-44 speeder up from a freind thinking it was a 1/4 inch tool turns out it is a 9/32, anybody have any info. about it, I haven't turned up anything.

thanks
Dean

[snapmom]

They are from the early 40s, probably were all military issue. Not in the catalogs. There are two types.

[agmechjake]

They are from the early 40s, probably were all military issue. Not in the catalogs. There are two types.

Please explain. Mine has a round handle with a 9/32 square hole for a t-bar, ratchet, etc.

[snapmom]

The two types, the only difference is the end handle, one is smooth, and the other has knurling

[deanfedwards]

Thanks, the one I got has the knurled center handle and the end handle is smooth. With these being military is there any collectability to them?

[snapmom]

Yes, most all 9/32 snap on tools are collectable, the speeder is not hard to find, value 15-25.

[lauver]

I have a couple of the M-44 speeders, both have the smooth end handles. I recently noticed that my smooth handles have a female drive in the end of the handle. Do all the smooth handles have the female drive? And, do all the knurled handles have a hole for a cross bar? I'm just trying to sort this out.

Regarding the production dates, is the consensus that these were only produced from about 1941 to 1945? Did they stop production because the war ended or because most tool manfactures were abandoning the 9/32 drive in favor of the 1/4 drive? Any thoughts?

[snapmom]

All the smooth handles I have seen have the female slot. Not sure of the ones with knurling . I have not seen a speeder with a hole for a bar, only breaker bars. Exact dates for the M-44 are not known, why and for who, and why they stopped are unknown