compositor may
stand erect before it, the boxes are more readily reached by the hand if
the back of the case is at a slight elevation. A case lying perfectly
flat must be somewhat lower, in relation to the compositor's arms, than
when it is resting at an inclination, in order to take types from it
with the same facility. Consequently the custom is to place working
cases and working tops or shelves at an inclination upward from the
front to the back.

This inclination serves also as the most convenient kind of a rest for
galleys upon which loose lines of composed matter are handled. Lines of
small type will not stand upright without support of some kind, even on
a perfectly level, smooth, rigid surface. The universal custom,
therefore, is to place galleys of type matter in a slanting position, so
that the ends of the lines will be higher and all the matter will rest
firmly against the lower rim of the galley. A galley in this slanting
position, with the first letter in the line resting against the lower
rim and the words reading upward, is the safest and most practicable
manner in which to make corrections, lift out or insert whole lines
singly or in groups, or to handle types generally in certain difficult
composition, making-up pages, etc. After the pages are tied up or
surrounded by side supports in some manner they may be conveniently
handled on a level surface. Ordinary linotyped matter, which consists of
a single piece for each line of words, and consequently is not liable to
pi, may be, and usually is, handled throughout on level tables; but
types are easily and safely handled only when they may be placed against
the lower rim of an inclined galley.

[Illustration: Fig. 16. Compositor's Work Stand--Front Side.]

[Illustration: Fig. 17. Compositor's Work Stand--Rear View.]

_Case Stands and Racks_

A simple and inexpensive working stand to hold type cases for composing
is that shown in Fig. 18. This is made of wood and has a rack in the
lower part for holding extra cases. It will be noticed that because the
rack is wide enough to take the full-size case, the top of the stand is
several inches wider than the case, and the side frames are therefore
too far apart to support the ends of the case. To enable the cases to be
held safely, an extra arm is placed inside near the side frame to hold
one end of the case. The surplus space beside the working cases is
usually furnished with a sloping shelf or narrow galley