Keep bearings wrapped
Army conservation sheet: cartoon imps labelled Damage, Rust, Dust and Sweat attack a wrapped bearing with picks, a hose, a shovel and buckets, beside a numbered four-point instruction list and 'Maintenance Mike' pointing at the reader. The fear-appeal is mild and comic: the personified enemies stand for harm to scarce parts, and a bearing is compared to a soldier without a fox hole.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1944
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- U.S. Army, Army Conservation Project No. 94-O-12 (SAVE Conservation Program)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- Military
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Own forces
- Purpose
- Mobilize or secure compliance
- Theme
- War and the military
- Event
- World War II
- Regime
- Roosevelt administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Posters, retrieved October 4, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (U.S. government work)
U.S. Army. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-1163 (NAID 514759).
Text on the object
KEEP BEARINGS WRAPPED A bearing without a wrapper is like a soldier without a fox hole. It hasn't got a chance against its enemies-rust, dust, sweat, and damage. Antifriction bearings are scarce. Protect them. Keep them wrapped. 1. If you unwrap a bearing for any reason, wrap it again before storing. 2. Never issue an unwrapped bearing. 3. If you receive an unwrapped bearing, wrap it before storing. 4. Keep bearings wrapped at all times-right up until the time they are installed. MAINTENANCE MIKE SAYS: "Keep Bearings Clean and Lubricated, too!" Do you have unwrapped antifriction bearings in stock? If you have-clean, oil, and wrap them now. Don't delay. Do it right away. [label on figures and objects: DAMAGE, DUST, RUST, SWEAT, SWEAT, SWEAT, WATER, DAMAGE, RUST, SWEAT, DUST, DUST] [emblem: U.S. ARMY SAVE CONSERVATION PROGRAM] Bearings Are Scarce--Protect Them Army Conservation Project No. 94-O-12 [imprint: U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1944-O-595884]
