Just read that the first drafting tables were slanted at 20 degrees for a specific reason

I was looking up old drafting history for a project and found a museum article about 19th century tools. It said the standard 20-degree table slope wasn't just tradition, it was the calculated angle to reduce neck strain over a 10-hour workday. I always thought it was just about keeping pencils from rolling. Has anyone else come across a drafting 'fact' that turned out to be totally wrong?

3 comments

3 Comments

verawhite20h ago

What about the left-handed draftsmen, though?

williamb2918h agoMost Upvoted

My buddy had to buy special lefty tools for drafting, @verawhite.

susan_bell18h ago

Yeah, I heard something similar about the old T-squares. I was told they were weighted on one end so they'd stay put on the slanted table, but it was actually about balance and making long, straight lines easier. My shop teacher in high school had this whole story about it being a safety thing, which made no sense. Turns out he just liked telling stories.