Course Description

Goal

This workshop will introduce the basic principles and practices of machinery conservation, and will familiarize participants with the materials found in machinery collections and how these materials deteriorate in various storage and display environments.

Description

Through lectures and guided discussions, slides, and local field trips, this workshop will define and illustrate practical preventive measures that can be implemented in storage and display areas. The interaction of original materials, design, and the environment will be a major focus of the workshop, with emphasis on 20th-century objects in uncontrolled or semi-controlled facilities. Machinery materials, finishes, and lubricants, and their deterioration, will be explored. The cleaning and preservation of surfaces and mechanical components will be demonstrated and participants will have the opportunity to experiment on actual artifacts. A detailed list of suppliers and prices will be provided.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• analyze and prioritize the problems with their collections
• document the condition of collections and restoration work with precision and accuracy
• assess outdoor/indoor storage environments
• maximize the effectiveness of limited resources
• use their artifacts for interpretation in non-destructive ways
• recognize original materials, surface coatings, and decorative details
• select the most appropriate product for a given application

Target Audience

Staff and volunteers of museums, interpretive sites, and historical societies entrusted with the care of machinery collections

Note: This is not a restoration seminar!

Attendance Maximum 10 participants

Duration 2 days

Special Requirements

Access to host museum/site that contains a variety of machinery in its collection.

Outdoor or semi-enclosed storage is expected.

Instructor(s) George Prytulak