Red Paint and wheel Nuts, Plugs ect

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[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by Brad Mills
When did the British Army adopt the practice of painting wheel nuts , drain/fill plugs and grease nipples red? Is it a Pre WWII thing?

Brad,

The red wheel nuts are only on divided wheels, for the outer rim clamp nuts. This is a warning, in case some numpty undoes all the nuts to remove a wheel. The divided wheel was introduced in late 1930's and I think it was started then as the safety notice attached to the wheel rim refers if I am not mistaken.

Richard

[Neil Ashley]

Brad

I have photographs of Humber Armoured Cars in N W Europe with the clamping bolts painted red.

As for the other items, I would imagine that it was introduced during the 1950's to give bored National Servicemen jobs to do.