diff --git a/org.springframework.context/src/main/java/org/springframework/ui/binding/Binder.java b/org.springframework.context/src/main/java/org/springframework/ui/binding/Binder.java
index 3a1aaff0046..158c915abf8 100644
--- a/org.springframework.context/src/main/java/org/springframework/ui/binding/Binder.java
+++ b/org.springframework.context/src/main/java/org/springframework/ui/binding/Binder.java
@@ -29,13 +29,13 @@ import org.springframework.ui.format.Formatter;
  * @see #add(BindingConfiguration)
  * @see #bind(UserValues)
  */
-public interface Binder<M> {
+public interface Binder {
 
 	/**
 	 * The model object this binder binds to.
 	 * @return the model object
 	 */
-	M getModel();
+	Object getModel();
 	
 	/**
 	 * Configures if this binder is <i>strict</i>; a strict binder requires all bindings to be registered explicitly using {@link #add(BindingConfiguration)}.
diff --git a/org.springframework.context/src/main/java/org/springframework/ui/binding/support/GenericBinder.java b/org.springframework.context/src/main/java/org/springframework/ui/binding/support/GenericBinder.java
index 0398a61dc2b..452459f4b2b 100644
--- a/org.springframework.context/src/main/java/org/springframework/ui/binding/support/GenericBinder.java
+++ b/org.springframework.context/src/main/java/org/springframework/ui/binding/support/GenericBinder.java
@@ -55,17 +55,15 @@ import org.springframework.ui.format.Formatter;
 /**
  * Binds user-entered values to properties of a model object.
  * @author Keith Donald
- *
- * @param <M> The type of model object this binder binds to - TODO is this worth it?
  * @see #add(BindingConfiguration)
  * @see #bind(UserValues)
  */
 @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-public class GenericBinder<M> implements Binder<M> {
+public class GenericBinder implements Binder {
 
 	private static final String[] EMPTY_STRING_ARRAY = new String[0];
 
-	private M model;
+	private Object model;
 
 	private Map<String, Binding> bindings;
 
@@ -101,7 +99,7 @@ public class GenericBinder<M> implements Binder<M> {
 	 * Creates a new binder for the model object.
 	 * @param model the model object containing properties this binder will bind to
 	 */
-	public GenericBinder(M model) {
+	public GenericBinder(Object model) {
 		this.model = model;
 		bindings = new HashMap<String, Binding>();
 		int parserConfig = SpelExpressionParserConfiguration.CreateListsOnAttemptToIndexIntoNull
@@ -110,7 +108,7 @@ public class GenericBinder<M> implements Binder<M> {
 		typeConverter = new DefaultTypeConverter();
 	}
 
-	public M getModel() {
+	public Object getModel() {
 		return model;
 	}
 
diff --git a/org.springframework.context/src/main/java/org/springframework/ui/binding/support/WebBinder.java b/org.springframework.context/src/main/java/org/springframework/ui/binding/support/WebBinder.java
index 078fac4027b..4104f808fb9 100644
--- a/org.springframework.context/src/main/java/org/springframework/ui/binding/support/WebBinder.java
+++ b/org.springframework.context/src/main/java/org/springframework/ui/binding/support/WebBinder.java
@@ -23,11 +23,10 @@ import org.springframework.ui.binding.UserValues;
  * A binder designed for use in HTTP (web) environments.
  * Suited for binding user-provided HTTP query parameters to model properties.
  * @author Keith Donald
- * @param <M> The type of model object this binder binds to
  * @see #setFieldDefaultPrefix(String)
  * @see #setFieldMarkerPrefix(String)
  */
-public class WebBinder<M> extends GenericBinder<M> {
+public class WebBinder extends GenericBinder {
 
 	private String fieldMarkerPrefix = "_";
 
@@ -37,7 +36,7 @@ public class WebBinder<M> extends GenericBinder<M> {
 	 * Creates a new web binder for the model object.
 	 * @param model the model object containing properties this binder will bind to
 	 */
-	public WebBinder(M model) {
+	public WebBinder(Object model) {
 		super(model);
 	}
 
diff --git a/org.springframework.context/src/test/java/org/springframework/ui/binding/support/GenericBinderTests.java b/org.springframework.context/src/test/java/org/springframework/ui/binding/support/GenericBinderTests.java
index 4d86ad863fb..427bd40438d 100644
--- a/org.springframework.context/src/test/java/org/springframework/ui/binding/support/GenericBinderTests.java
+++ b/org.springframework.context/src/test/java/org/springframework/ui/binding/support/GenericBinderTests.java
@@ -33,8 +33,13 @@ import org.springframework.ui.format.number.IntegerFormatter;
 
 public class GenericBinderTests {
 
+	private TestBean bean;
+	private Binder binder;
+	
 	@Before
 	public void setUp() {
+		bean = new TestBean();
+		binder = new GenericBinder(bean);
 		LocaleContextHolder.setLocale(Locale.US);
 	}
 	
@@ -45,7 +50,6 @@ public class GenericBinderTests {
 	
 	@Test
 	public void bindSingleValuesWithDefaultTypeConverterConversion() {
-		Binder<TestBean> binder = new GenericBinder<TestBean>(new TestBean());
 		UserValues values = new UserValues();
 		values.add("string", "test");
 		values.add("integer", "3");
@@ -68,14 +72,13 @@ public class GenericBinderTests {
 		assertNull(results.get(2).getErrorCause());		
 		assertEquals("BAR", results.get(2).getUserValue());
 		
-		assertEquals("test", binder.getModel().getString());
-		assertEquals(3, binder.getModel().getInteger());
-		assertEquals(FooEnum.BAR, binder.getModel().getFoo());
+		assertEquals("test", bean.getString());
+		assertEquals(3, bean.getInteger());
+		assertEquals(FooEnum.BAR, bean.getFoo());
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void bindSingleValuesWithDefaultTypeCoversionFailure() {
-		Binder<TestBean> binder = new GenericBinder<TestBean>(new TestBean());
 		UserValues values = new UserValues();
 		values.add("string", "test");
 		// bad value
@@ -89,46 +92,40 @@ public class GenericBinderTests {
 
 	@Test
 	public void bindSingleValuePropertyFormatter() throws ParseException {
-		Binder<TestBean> binder = new GenericBinder<TestBean>(new TestBean());
 		binder.add(new BindingConfiguration("date", new DateFormatter()));
 		binder.bind(UserValues.single("date", "2009-06-01"));
-		assertEquals(new DateFormatter().parse("2009-06-01", Locale.US), binder.getModel().getDate());
+		assertEquals(new DateFormatter().parse("2009-06-01", Locale.US), bean.getDate());
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void bindSingleValuePropertyFormatterParseException() {
-		Binder<TestBean> binder = new GenericBinder<TestBean>(new TestBean());
 		binder.add(new BindingConfiguration("date", new DateFormatter()));
 		binder.bind(UserValues.single("date", "bogus"));
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void bindSingleValueWithFormatterRegistedByType() throws ParseException {
-		Binder<TestBean> binder = new GenericBinder<TestBean>(new TestBean());
 		binder.add(new DateFormatter(), Date.class);
 		binder.bind(UserValues.single("date", "2009-06-01"));
-		assertEquals(new DateFormatter().parse("2009-06-01", Locale.US), binder.getModel().getDate());
+		assertEquals(new DateFormatter().parse("2009-06-01", Locale.US), bean.getDate());
 	}
 	
 	@Test
 	public void bindSingleValueWithFormatterRegisteredByAnnotation() throws ParseException {
-		Binder<TestBean> binder = new GenericBinder<TestBean>(new TestBean());
 		binder.add(new CurrencyFormatter(), CurrencyFormat.class);
 		binder.bind(UserValues.single("currency", "$23.56"));
-		assertEquals(new BigDecimal("23.56"), binder.getModel().getCurrency());
+		assertEquals(new BigDecimal("23.56"), bean.getCurrency());
 	}
 	
 	@Test
 	public void bindSingleValueWithnAnnotationFormatterFactoryRegistered() throws ParseException {
-		Binder<TestBean> binder = new GenericBinder<TestBean>(new TestBean());
 		binder.add(new CurrencyAnnotationFormatterFactory());
 		binder.bind(UserValues.single("currency", "$23.56"));
-		assertEquals(new BigDecimal("23.56"), binder.getModel().getCurrency());
+		assertEquals(new BigDecimal("23.56"), bean.getCurrency());
 	}
 	
 	@Test
 	public void bindSingleValuePropertyNotFound() throws ParseException {
-		Binder<TestBean> binder = new GenericBinder<TestBean>(new TestBean());
 		List<BindingResult> results = binder.bind(UserValues.single("bogus", "2009-06-01"));
 		assertEquals(1, results.size());
 		assertTrue(results.get(0).isError());
@@ -137,7 +134,6 @@ public class GenericBinderTests {
 	
 	@Test
 	public void bindUserValuesCreatedFromUserMap() {
-		Binder<TestBean> binder = new GenericBinder<TestBean>(new TestBean());
 		Map<String, String> userMap = new LinkedHashMap<String, String>();
 		userMap.put("string", "test");
 		userMap.put("integer", "3");
@@ -146,13 +142,12 @@ public class GenericBinderTests {
 		assertEquals(2, results.size());
 		assertEquals("test", results.get(0).getUserValue());
 		assertEquals("3", results.get(1).getUserValue());
-		assertEquals("test", binder.getModel().getString());
-		assertEquals(3, binder.getModel().getInteger());		
+		assertEquals("test", bean.getString());
+		assertEquals(3, bean.getInteger());		
 	}
 	
 	@Test
 	public void getBindingOptimistic() {
-		Binder<TestBean> binder = new GenericBinder<TestBean>(new TestBean());
 		Binding b = binder.getBinding("integer");
 		assertFalse(b.isCollection());
 		assertEquals("0", b.getValue());
@@ -163,7 +158,6 @@ public class GenericBinderTests {
 
 	@Test
 	public void getBindingStrict() {
-		Binder<TestBean> binder = new GenericBinder<TestBean>(new TestBean());
 		binder.setStrict(true);
 		Binding b = binder.getBinding("integer");
 		assertNull(b);
@@ -178,7 +172,6 @@ public class GenericBinderTests {
 
 	@Test
 	public void getBindingCustomFormatter() {
-		Binder<TestBean> binder = new GenericBinder<TestBean>(new TestBean());
 		binder.add(new BindingConfiguration("currency", new CurrencyFormatter()));
 		Binding b = binder.getBinding("currency");
 		assertFalse(b.isCollection());
@@ -189,7 +182,6 @@ public class GenericBinderTests {
 	
 	@Test
 	public void getBindingCustomFormatterRequiringTypeCoersion() {
-		Binder<TestBean> binder = new GenericBinder<TestBean>(new TestBean());
 		// IntegerFormatter formats Longs, so conversion from Integer -> Long is performed
 		binder.add(new BindingConfiguration("integer", new IntegerFormatter()));
 		Binding b = binder.getBinding("integer");
@@ -199,14 +191,13 @@ public class GenericBinderTests {
 	
 	@Test
 	public void getBindingMultiValued() {
-		Binder<TestBean> binder = new GenericBinder<TestBean>(new TestBean());
 		Binding b = binder.getBinding("foos");
 		assertTrue(b.isCollection());
 		assertEquals(0, b.getCollectionValues().length);
 		b.setValue(new String[] { "BAR", "BAZ", "BOOP" });
-		assertEquals(FooEnum.BAR, binder.getModel().getFoos().get(0));
-		assertEquals(FooEnum.BAZ, binder.getModel().getFoos().get(1));
-		assertEquals(FooEnum.BOOP, binder.getModel().getFoos().get(2));
+		assertEquals(FooEnum.BAR, bean.getFoos().get(0));
+		assertEquals(FooEnum.BAZ, bean.getFoos().get(1));
+		assertEquals(FooEnum.BOOP, bean.getFoos().get(2));
 		String[] values = b.getCollectionValues();
 		assertEquals(3, values.length);
 		assertEquals("BAR", values[0]);
@@ -216,7 +207,6 @@ public class GenericBinderTests {
 
 	@Test
 	public void getBindingMultiValuedTypeConversionFailure() {
-		Binder<TestBean> binder = new GenericBinder<TestBean>(new TestBean());
 		Binding b = binder.getBinding("foos");
 		assertTrue(b.isCollection());
 		assertEquals(0, b.getCollectionValues().length);
@@ -228,8 +218,6 @@ public class GenericBinderTests {
 
 	@Test
 	public void bindHandleNullValueInNestedPath() {
-		TestBean testbean = new TestBean();
-		Binder<TestBean> binder = new GenericBinder<TestBean>(testbean);
 		UserValues values = new UserValues();
 		
 		// EL configured with some options from SpelExpressionParserConfiguration:
@@ -257,15 +245,14 @@ public class GenericBinderTests {
 		values.add("addresses[5].zip", "32901");
 
 		List<BindingResult> results = binder.bind(values);
-		Assert.assertEquals(6,testbean.addresses.size());
-		Assert.assertEquals("Palm Bay",testbean.addresses.get(1).city);
-		Assert.assertNotNull(testbean.addresses.get(2));
+		Assert.assertEquals(6, bean.addresses.size());
+		Assert.assertEquals("Palm Bay", bean.addresses.get(1).city);
+		Assert.assertNotNull(bean.addresses.get(2));
 		assertEquals(12, results.size());
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void formatPossibleValue() {
-		Binder<TestBean> binder = new GenericBinder<TestBean>(new TestBean());
 		binder.add(new BindingConfiguration("currency", new CurrencyFormatter()));
 		Binding b = binder.getBinding("currency");
 		assertEquals("$5.00", b.format(new BigDecimal("5")));
diff --git a/org.springframework.context/src/test/java/org/springframework/ui/binding/support/WebBinderTests.java b/org.springframework.context/src/test/java/org/springframework/ui/binding/support/WebBinderTests.java
index cfe206209fe..ffec0d3ec5d 100644
--- a/org.springframework.context/src/test/java/org/springframework/ui/binding/support/WebBinderTests.java
+++ b/org.springframework.context/src/test/java/org/springframework/ui/binding/support/WebBinderTests.java
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ import org.springframework.ui.format.number.CurrencyFormat;
 
 public class WebBinderTests {
 
+	TestBean bean = new TestBean();
+	Binder binder = new WebBinder(bean);
+
 	@Before
 	public void setUp() {
 		LocaleContextHolder.setLocale(Locale.US);
@@ -36,7 +39,6 @@ public class WebBinderTests {
 	
 	@Test
 	public void bindUserValuesCreatedFromUserMap() throws ParseException {
-		Binder<TestBean> binder = new WebBinder<TestBean>(new TestBean());
 		binder.add(new CurrencyAnnotationFormatterFactory());
 		binder.add(new BindingConfiguration("date", new DateFormatter()));
 		Map<String, String> userMap = new LinkedHashMap<String, String>();
@@ -57,12 +59,12 @@ public class WebBinderTests {
 		assertEquals("$5.00", results.get(4).getUserValue());
 		assertEquals(null, results.get(5).getUserValue());
 		
-		assertEquals("test", binder.getModel().getString());
-		assertEquals(0, binder.getModel().getInteger());
-		assertEquals(new DateFormatter().parse("2009-06-10", Locale.US), binder.getModel().getDate());
-		assertEquals(false, binder.getModel().isBool());
-		assertEquals(new BigDecimal("5.00"), binder.getModel().getCurrency());
-		assertEquals(null, binder.getModel().getAddresses());
+		assertEquals("test", bean.getString());
+		assertEquals(0, bean.getInteger());
+		assertEquals(new DateFormatter().parse("2009-06-10", Locale.US), bean.getDate());
+		assertEquals(false, bean.isBool());
+		assertEquals(new BigDecimal("5.00"), bean.getCurrency());
+		assertEquals(null, bean.getAddresses());
 	}
 	
 	public static enum FooEnum {