Leads tray

In order to keep leads in small quantities in their proper places and accessible without loss of time, Mr. Chas. Maillard has devised a Leads Tray, to which he has prefixed his surname. The chief recommendation of the design, next to utility, is its simplicity. The principle of an ordinary type-case has been adopted, the object being to cosign the tray or trays to an ordinary case-rack. Each tray will contain all the even measures of leads from four ems to twenty-eight, excepting only twenty-six ems, the aggregate number of leads will amount in the instance of six-to-Pica, to more than five thousand, or 438 of each measure. For greater convenience, however, and to accommodate small jobbing printers, the leads tray is divided for the reception of both four-to-Pica and six-to-Pica, or other kinds; and the proportion of four’s and six’s will be as 176 to 174 of each measure, or more than four thousand in the aggregate—exceeding two thousand of each kind. The number would be ample tor ordinary use, either singly or by piecing; and surplus leads might be stacked and stored in such a way as, to be readily placed in the tray as it required to be replenished.