I found this tag in my 46

[Daniel Szydel]

It was hanging on the rail that the dashboard bolts to. I’m guessing it has been there when it was being assembled at the factory. What does the 699 mean?

Dan

[Jeff Hansen]

Could it be the body number?  Check the body tag on the side of the firewall to see.

Whatever it means, that is a rare, rare find!  Are there numbers on the other stubs?

Jeff

[Jay Friedman]

I'm wildly speculating that the 699 means it's the 699th car manufactured that day??

[Daniel Szydel]

Jeff, it looks like there were 16 tags in that pack. I’m guessing they got tore off at various stages of production.

I just checked and it is the body number. Sorry if it’s a dumb question but what is the body number? How does one actually find the production date?

Thanks
Dan

[fishnjim]

Most likely a build/inspection tag during body assembly.   No computer print out in those daze, ie, paper systems.   The way the line knows what to put on/check off.   
It lists the paint code #s etc. so they know what to do and probably checked or tore off/turned in.   But doesn't show any added info on that white one, except the bottom.   So not sure it's relevant without the whole stack.   
Not sure the 699 sequence number has any significance or meaning, just that it was a numbered tag system.   There is a "Fisher Body" history book out there that might have some further info.   I wouldn't think they made anywhere near that many in a day in '46.   Low production year.
The metal Fisher body tag would have the body number on it.   I'm not sure about the '46s because that's really prewar in post war. 
I'd definitely preserve it with the car.   Adds to it's history/provenance.   Put in one of those archive quality mylar bags and seal.   Don't handle much, oils will deteriorate/stain paper.

[Jeff Hansen]

... what is the body number? How does one actually find the production date?

The body number is the build sequence number of the body shell.  Of the 1342 series 6267 bodies built in model year 1946, yours is number 699.  Note that bodies were not necessarily used in the order in which they were built.

You cannot get the actual build date of your car but you can get the ship date (date the car left the factory) on the build sheet which you can order from Allied Vaughan (https://www.cadillaclasalleclub.org/page/VehicleAuth).

HTH,
Jeff

[Daniel Szydel]

Thanks Jeff, that answers the question.  I’m really enjoying learning as much as I can about this car and I really appreciate all the knowledge on this forum.