galley

A galley is a shallow rectangular tray, traditionally made from wood or brass, used to hold and organize metal type during composition and makeup in letterpress printing. The tray sits flat on the compositor's work surface, with slightly raised sides to prevent type from spilling. Galleys come in standard widths (typically matching column widths of common page sizes) and lengths ranging from 18 to 36 inches, allowing the compositor to accumulate a full measure of set type before transferring it to the chase for printing.

The galley serves as both storage and staging area. As a compositor sets type character by character using a composing stick, the completed lines are transferred to the galley where they sit in the order they will print. A single page might require several galleys, with lines accumulated, adjusted for spacing, and proofed before moving to the next phase. The smooth, flat surface allows for easy sliding of type, while the raised sides prevent accidental dumps that would scatter months of painstaking work across the floor.

Variants and materials

Modern galleys are usually cast iron or steel, sometimes with a polished surface to reduce friction. Older examples were wood (particularly hardwoods like maple) faced with brass or steel strips along the bottom where friction is greatest. Some compositors prefer iron for its weight and stability; others favor the slightly smoother surface of brass-faced wood. Galleys designed for narrow columns are called half galleys. The tray's depth is shallow, usually 1.5 to 2 inches, just enough to contain type safely without wasting bench space.

Wear on a galley's surface is inevitable. Repeated sliding of thousands of pieces of type gradually scores and roughens even steel or brass; a compositor might take a galley to a finisher to have the working surface reground and polished when friction becomes problematic. A warped or dented galley can cause type to jam or sit unevenly, introducing errors in makeup. Keeping the working surface clean and dry prevents rust and maintains the frictionless action necessary for efficient work.

The galley's name comes from its resemblance to an open boat or barge (a galley), reflecting both its shape and its historical role as a vessel for carrying the compositor's work from one stage of production to the next. Today's digital workflows have made the physical galley obsolete in commercial plants, but it remains standard equipment in letterpress shops, teaching studios, and among fine printers who work with metal type.