The Ludlow has its own kind of composing stick, with a rectangular shape in it for the matrices.
Figures: Ludlow composing sticks
On their side, the composing stices had a ruler with the length of the line expressed in cicero. This way, the composer knows how long his line will become.
When a line of type is composed, the composing stick is closed so the matrices become clamped. First, the end of the stick is slided in. Then, the screw is turned. At the end, always check if the matrices are fixed, so they won't fall out.
Video: Closing a composing stick and checking if it is sufficiently closed
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