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wartime lighting regulations

Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2019 6:29 pm
by buckfield
Hi, been away for a while hello again, looking into wartime lighting regulations and the effect of the chrome plating during a blackout, and whether these vehicles would have been de-chromed or had some or all their chrome covered maybe during moonlight times to avoid giving enemy bombers clues to roads/population etc, seems unlikely that you would need to cover your chromework but saw a webpage (which I've now lost) about the very strict conditions in SE England esp regarding driving during blackout and full moon times. any ideas if this was correct? Tony

Re: wartime lighting regulations

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2019 8:16 am
by Stan Thomas
Hi Tony, and a Happy new Year!

Having lived through those times as a young boy, I'm not aware of any regulations regarding specific attention having to be applied to chromework on cars during the black-out, or do I remember seeing vehicles other than with masked headlights and white lines painted on the edges of their wings etc.

However, perhaps you could research whatever may be on record via "Air Raid Precautions" (the A.R.P.) as it applied to the civilian volunteers in respect of the training they may have received etc. - as it was their job to directly enforce requirements with the public.

Re: wartime lighting regulations

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2019 3:59 pm
by buckfield
Hi Stan, yes Happy new year, the only bit of info I have is to do with the military spec vehicles were chrome was covered over or painted for camouflage reasons like this from a ford website.
info on ww2 painting over of chrome.JPG

Re: wartime lighting regulations

Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2019 12:49 am
by buckfield
Hi, also found this out with painting bumpers etc.

Re: wartime lighting regulations

Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2019 11:05 pm
by JT7196
Seeing the mention of Petrol Rationing Book, reminded me that I still have the one issued somewhen in the early Sixties, when I was driving my 1958 STD 10.
Will try and find it and send in a photo .

Cheers Al 😊😊😊

Re: wartime lighting regulations

Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2019 1:00 pm
by buckfield
Hello Alan, happy new year to you, i'm really interested in wartime history, and whether I should make my "well behind" project Lanchester 11 into a wartime spec vehicle? although it will be pretty easy to convert back. and time is marching on and still have loads to do, it will never be a show winner with the amount of time I have lost etc, so will carry-on asap.Tony