Having ascertained that his pages are laid down right, the compositor
proceeds to dress the chases, which we will suppose to be for a sheet of
octavo. Accordingly he selects a good pair of chases that are fellows in
all respects; and, having laid them over the pages for the two different
forms, he puts such gutter-sticks between page and page, and such reglets
along the sides of the two crosses, as will give the book proper margins
after it is bound.
To ascertain the proper distance, and to prevent wastage of furniture, he
takes short pieces of furniture, or quotations, and quadrates or reglets,
to fit the space between two pages; then, pushing the pages close to
them, he finds the exact width of the furniture necessary, by trying the
ends of various pieces, always measuring from the edge of the lines of
type above the page-cords.
By observing a proper method in cutting up new furniture, the same
will be serviceable for other works as well as the one for which it is
intended, even though the size of the page may differ, provided it agrees
with the margin of the paper. The gutters should be cut two or three
lines longer than the page; the head-sticks wider; the back furniture may
run nearly down to the rim of the chase, but must be level with the top
of the page, which will admit of the inner head-stick running in; the
difference of the outer head-stick may go over the side-stick, and the
gutter will then run up between them. The side-stick only need to be cut
exact, and the furniture will completely justify.
Wood and metal furniture, cut or cast to specific lengths and widths,
may now be had from the type-founders, the use of which will save time,
waste, and labour.