Compositors slide lines of loose metal type from their composing stick directly onto this flat brass or steel tray. The upright edges on three sides keep the type from falling over while the text is being assembled, corrected, and proofed. Once the text is fully approved, it is moved from this tray to the imposing stone to be broken into final pages.
Heard on the job
Slide that column of text onto a galley and tie it up before it spills.
Insider tip
Always keep the open end of the tray facing away from you and slightly elevated so gravity helps keep the type standing upright against the closed end.