Set shelf

A set shelf is a shelf with drawers that also serves as a workplace for the typesetter . The shelves' slide-in units hold the various type boxes with writing material.

A basic distinction is made between types of set shelves with an inclined desk and those with a flat work surface . The type case required for the setting work can be placed on the inclined desk, a bar on the front edge prevents it from sliding down. The shelf type without an inclined desk offers a level work surface, often made of a zinc plate. An intermediate form of the two types is achieved with top or rollable desks on rails that can be moved on the flat work surface.

Then the types of shelves are differentiated based on the number of letter boxes (drawers):

Set shelves for bread letter boxes (across the entire width of the set shelf),
Set shelves for antique and plug-in font boxes (the normal version),
Set shelves with writing boards,
Set shelves with only plug-in font boxes.

The dimensions of the set shelves were standardized. All variants had a height of 100 cm and a depth of 65 cm. For the versions with an inclined desk, the rear height was 130 cm. The width was dependent on the dimensions of the stored font boxes. There were large set shelves with a width of 105 cm, small ones with a width of 75 cm and shelves for pegs that were 36 cm wide. The typesetter usually worked standing up on the shelves.

In the early years of book printing, the typesetting shelves (inclined desks) often had a compartment in which the typesetter could store his Vespers or other private items.

See also: letterpress , hand typesetting

literature

Sepp Dußler, Fritz Kolling: Modern typesetting . 4th edition. Verlag Documentation Saur KG, Pullach 1974, ISBN 3-7940-8703-8 .
Paul Fritzsche: The typesetter. A professional customer . VEB Fachbuchverlag, Leipzig 1968.