Why is it called a "Door" ?

[w30bob]

Ok.......this has been bugging me for some time now, so I might as well ask. Why does the military refer to lens covers for headlights, tail lights, BO lights....as "doors"? You see "parking light door, headlight door, stop light door, etc listed in the manuals. Anybody know the story behind calling these things "doors"?

thanks,
bob

[isaac_alaska]

well, because that's how the light bulbs get in and out of the housings

actually, i don't have any idea. I assumed they were hinged or something, but i've not taken one apart yet

[Elwood]

Isaac hit the nail on the head. Early auto headlights did have a glass lens that was hinged on one side and had a latch or hasp on the other side. Since these lights were not electric (they were typically acetylene), they had to be lit manually, and having a hinged door to access the wick was required.

Eventually, the term "headlight door" came to mean the trim bezel that surrounds the headlight. The term is a general automotive phrase, and not limited to military vehicles.

[w30bob]

Great! Thanks Elwood.............I can FINALLY sleep at night!



You guys rock!

bob