The Wallet Shoppe
The Speidel Money Clip is a fun riff on a classic minimalist approach that makes a great gift.
The Bulldog Clip Money Clip
Wallets have always been one of those signifiers, like an expensive watch or pen. The type of wallet you carry says something about who you are. A classic billfold in aged leather says one thing, a long biker wallet with a chain says another.
There’s a certain type of person that reacts to that by pushing back the other way. Instead of getting a classic high-quality leather wallet that says “I’m a man of wealth and taste”, they go to the other extreme and hold a minimal number of cards and bills held together with a plain rubber band or one of those classic bulldog clips:
Make no mistake though, that’s a carefully-crafted statement of who they are just as much as the businessman with his high-end money clip. They’re sending a message that they aren’t buying into the whole consumerist culture, that they like simplicity, or that they are far too focussed on their mission in life to be bothered with fashionable accessories.
It’s a fun option though. The simple bulldog clip binder grabs cards and cash together with a spring grip. So what’s a company to do with an idea that good?
The “Bill Binder” Speidel Money Clip
Enter Speidel. This clip is a fun riff on the classic model. Speidel have taken the humble bulldog clip as inspiration and gone on to create this little beauty.
Speidel lists a stainless-steel body, 2.95 × 1.57 inches and a weight of 0.1 lb (about 1.6 oz). The broad folding paddles are the visual difference from an office-supply clip.
Styles include brushed finishes, leather, carbon-fiber patterns and textured rubber. Choose the particular finish you like; the basic folding-clip mechanism is the point.
So How Does It Work?
The snap closure works very much like the bulldog clip it’s based on. The arms fold back as they do on a standard clip, and squeezing them opens the mouth of the clip itself so you can insert or remove your cards and cash. The paddles on the ends of the arms (which are decked out in the materials above, say rich leather) are much more comfortable to operate than a traditional bulldog clip.
Just like a traditional clip though, the arms and paddles then fold forward to create a flat profile that’s great for front pocket carry, while also gripping the cards and cash at a second point, adding another contact point against the contents.
Speidel advertises capacity from one to 75 bills, using a self-adjusting spring and two-point grip. Cards add more thickness than banknotes, so the number you enjoy carrying will depend on your mix of both.
Owner RICKY THRUST liked the sturdy grip and bill-and-card capacity. John Bowen wanted larger wings to hold his bills and cards. Try accessing one bill and a middle card with your usual load before deciding whether this shape suits you.
As regular readers know, we prefer carrying fewer cards rather than filling a clip just because it has room.
The Verdict
This is a beautiful and clever design that would make a great birthday or other special event gift idea. Speidel offers engraving on the back plate, which makes it a personal gift. If you’re interested in a money clip with a card case built in, take a look at the Tumi Money Clip Card Case for a more traditional leather approach. Verdict: we love it!
