On Tue, 12 Jun 2012 01:44:25 +0100, Grimly Curmudgeon wrote:

Rite of passage; common in most engineering works at the time.
Anyone who didn't get their balls greased or something similar can't
call themselves a proper tradesman.

Only a "rite of passage" if you know before hand that it is going to
happen at some point because you've seen it before and possibly
assisted. Afterwards the participants would supply clean clothes and
cover from the foreman as you spent a hour in the bogs cleaning
yourself up. Then all off down the pub to celebrate your joing of the
"club".

--
Cheers
Dave.