Bonklip ... Made in England
Patent No. 349657 was registered in 1930.
Bonklip was the trademark for a wide range of adjustable wristwatch bracelets.
The Bonklip, however, was originally never intended for military use...
The stainless steel / staybrite Bonklip had several attributes which appealed to the RAF: they were fully adjustable, so could be worn over flying clothing, or on the wrist; they were fireproof; they were also fixed permanently to the wristwatch.
In the fifties... They became standard issue on some of the navigational wristwatches.
Initially wristwatches were sent to a specialist workshop to have these straps fitted, the RGO in East Sussex, presumably because the Mark 11 was considered a delicate navigational instrument!!
The Bonklip was issued only to the RAF and only to air crew.
In the seventies... The Bonklip wrist straps were available in 3 sizes.
The strap width was the same (5/8") but the end clip was available in 17.5mm, 19mm and 20mm widths.
The RAF Service Reference Numbers were 6B/2763, 6B/3224 and 6B/3033 respectively.
In the early eighties... The Bonklip was discontinued although they were still issued until existing stocks were exhausted.
The genuine Bonklip was stainless / staybrite, marked Bonklip on the clasp with the patent no. marked underneath.
There were never any military markings at all.
In the nineties... Even up to about ten years ago if a Bonklip bracelet was to turn up on an old watch it was usually thrown away.
Originally Made in England... How long will it be, I wonder, before fake Bonklips start appearing on the market.
Regards.
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Originally Posted by dave
