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Matfield Reader Rails

A modular system that builds to your space — set the graphics width, pick a finish, and add graphics.

Live preview — drag to orbit, scroll to zoom. Built to your width and finish.

Upland® Exhibits Matfield Reader Rail, 60 inch Two reader rails connected end-to-end Matfield reader rail at the National Archives
Packing

Configure Your Rail

Rail + hardwood legs, priced by graphics width

Graphics width — inches, 24 to 72
Add-on — optional
Graphics — choose one
Your build $ USD + ground shipping, calculated at checkout
Estimated Lead Time
—
Custom-built to order
Ships by
—
Then 1–7 business days in transit

View graphics guidelines →

Modular Design

Built to Last Generations

Our heirloom-quality reader rails made of solid wood add a warm, inviting touch to galleries.

The modular design allows you to combine two or more rails end-to-end to build the length your exhibit needs.

Single reader rail module

Single Rail

A second reader rail module being added to the first

Adding a Module

Two reader rails connected end-to-end

Two Connected

// Technical Details

Specifications

Materials
Legs: solid birch hardwood with mortise-and-tenon joints
Rail bodies: Baltic birch plywood
Length
Any width from 24" to 72" — 45" and 60" are the most common
Height
30½" at front / 37¾" at back
Graphic Panel
Rail width × 15" on the sloped top
Finish
Includes Upland Signature Finish in your choice of color
Graphics
3mm UV-cured aluminum composite material (ACM)
Flipbook
Optional, +$275 — three steel binder rings through the rail top hold up to ten letter-size pages (10 archival polyester sheet protectors included). Position it anywhere along the rail.
Matfield reader rail dimensions
What's Included
• 1 rail body
• 1 graphics backer
• 2 leg units
• 1 hex wrench (5/32)
• 6 connector bolts (1/4×20 40mm)
• 6 joint connector nuts
• 10 connector bolts (1/4×20 23mm)
Upland® Exhibits - Matfield Reader Rail on display at the National Archives in New York City
Case Study

The National Archives

Upland's Matfield Reader Rails on display at the National Archives in New York City. This installation features our solid walnut upgrade for a premium, sophisticated look.

Upland® Matfield Reader Rails on display in NYC

Features solid walnut upgrade

// Optional Add-On
The flipbook on a Matfield rail — a designed photo-album spread in sheet protectors on three steel rings

The Flipbook

Three steel rings through the rail top hold ten letter-size pages, and visitors flip through them like a book. Fill the pages yourself, or have us design, print, and load them for $65 each.

Position it anywhere along the rail with the slider above.

+ $275 · Ten pages · Archival sleeves

// Interchangeable Panels
Exploded cross-section — ACM graphic print adhered to a bolt-down backer over the rail body top

Graphics System

The ACM print is permanently adhered to its backer; the backer bolts to the rail top. Swapping graphics means unbolting one panel — the rail never moves.

Supply artwork at your rail width × 15″ with ½″ bleed; every order includes a 1:1 template generated to your exact width. See the graphics guidelines for file specs.

ACM print · Bolt-down backer · Width × 15″

Custom Sizes

Custom Sizes

Configured to your specifications.

Custom Finishes

Custom Finishes

Your choice of paint or stain.

Shipping

Easy Shipping

Ships via UPS or FedEx.

Design Services

Design Services

Professional graphics available.

// Common Questions

Frequently Asked

Does the reader rail include printed graphics, or just the rail?
You choose right on the product page:
  • Print your own — the finished wooden rail; produce the graphic panel yourself from the free 1:1 template, at any large-format print shop.
  • We print your artwork — we print your finished files on a 3mm aluminum composite (ACM) panel, ready to drop into the rail.
  • We design + print — you supply the text and images, our designers do the exhibit-scale layout, and we print it. The price includes the printing.
Is the rail stable on its own, or does it need to be mounted to something?
It's fully freestanding. Legs are solid birch hardwood with mortise-and-tenon joints and the rail body is baltic birch plywood. You can anchor to the floor or wall if additional stability is required.
Can I combine rails to make a longer run?
Yes — rails bolt end-to-end in a straight line with the joint-connector hardware that's already included with every rail.
How are the graphics prices calculated?
The graphic panel is your rail width × 15". At the default 60" width that's about 6.3 sq ft: printing it on ACM runs $258, and design-and-print runs $961 — rail interpretation is dense, close-reading work, so design takes about 1.5 hours per square foot at our $75/hr rate (roughly 9½ hours at this size). Both prices update live as you change the width.
Can we change the flipbook pages ourselves?
Yes — print new pages and swap them in a few minutes; the rings bolt through the rail top, so the pages stay put. Any standard three-hole letter sheet protector fits as a replacement.

See all common questions · Email us →