In the white

[JPitzer999@domain.elided]

On Mon, 16 Nov 1998 14:30:17 +0000 alice@domain.elided writes:
>When I see new vehicle manufacturing lines, people often speak
>of "body in white" or "white metal" as a phase in the process.  
>Can anyone explain what this means?

In the firearms trade, "in the white" refers to the condition of the metal
before a gun is blued or finished.  Maybe this could also mean before it was
painted refering to a vehicle.