After a letterpress job is printed, compositors must manually dismantle the form and return the individual metal characters, spaces, and quads to their specific compartments in the typecase. This tedious process ensures the shop has enough loose type ready for the next job.
Heard on the job
Once the client signs off on the final run, distribute the headline type before it gets knocked over.
Insider tip
A compositor who distributes type carelessly creates a foul case, leading to typos in future jobs when the wrong letter is pulled from a bin.