John Bull clips, bicycle pedal clips made by Watrous Mfg. Co.

[Robert Watrous]

I have a letter from August 24, 1905 addressed from Markt & Co., Import and Export., New York to a company I have been researching, Watrous Manufacturing Co, of East Hampton Connecticut, USA.. Watrous Manufacturing Co. made bell toys and other hardware novelties. The letter is interesting because it seems they were also making bicycle pedal clips as early as 1905. On the web site by SpeedPlay, The History of Bicycle Pedals and Clips, early John Bull clips are mentioned as being made in the 1920s to 1940s. This letter clearly shows that the John Bull style predates 1905 and were being made in the US by Watrous Mfg. Co. of East Hampton Connecticut.

http://www.speedplay.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=pedalmuseum.straps.

Another part of th esite with a timeline for bicycle pedals and clips makes no mention of the John Bull or Rat Trap styles:

http://www.speedplay.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.history

The letter I have in part states:

“We sent your revised prices to our foreign office, and on receipt of same they write to know whether you propose to make a new divided clip which they inquired for. Furthermore, they ought to have those #70 and 80 clips for rubber as well as rat trap pedals ….also regret you can make no reduction on John Bull #10 Clips and state the probabilities are their orders for these will fall away considerably on account of the very low price at which these clips of English make are offered.”

Markt & Co. had offices in New York, Hamburg, Paris, London, Brussels, and Berlin.

If you have any information on any of these items or companies please email me. Thanks, Bob Watrous [e-mail]