Date   : Mon, 30 Jan 2006 19:27:25 -0000
From   : "Colin f" <colin@...>
Subject: Re: Making a 3.5" Beeb floppy drive

  
> I always understood "bog standard" to imply cheap & cheerful 
> (or cheap & 
> nasty) stuff, as opposed to high-end gear - which may also 
> come straight out 
> of a box. Bog standard... the stuff that might as well be 
> flushed down it.

Indeed it does, and there is no conclusive evidence that it derives from
'box-standard'.
There's a show running on the BBC called Balderdash & Piffle that is looking
at origins of English words and phrases, and this is one that is on their
list:
http://www.oed.com/bbcwordhunt/bog-standard.html

Cheers,
Colin f