The compositor is standing at a composing frame, built to take two pairs of type cases, each with an upper case, containing capital and small letters, and a lower, containing small letters. The upper case is arranged alphabetically; the lower by frequency with which letters occur, centering on the letters e, h, a, i, o, t, in such a way that the compositor's left hand, with the composing stick, stays in more or less the same position while he fills the stick with type with his right hand. Beside him is a galley table, and there is a galley (D) on the floor. The open frame (B) is a "chase", a steel or iron frame to hold type steady on the press. The full chase (C) has four pages of type set and wedged into it; when ready for printing it is called a "forme". Chases were designed so they could be wedged or locked onto the bed of the press.
