About the Restoration work at the Science Museum

  The apparatus on display has been restored to working condition and has been tested in the original experiment or demonstration for which it was intended.   Once in working condition it has been conserved in this state by continuous inspection and maintenance.   The ultimate test is the use of the apparatus for experiments in a way that does not compromise its integrity as a historical artefact.   Each item in the Museum has gone through a process of identification, assessment as to its condition and restoration that often involves complete or partial dismantling.   Restoration involves keeping the original parts of the assemblies where these are found and only treating the materials for corrosion, distortion and erosion in a way as to be the least invasive on the structural integrity of the whole item.   Each operation is fully documented and every process is done in a way as to be reversible if the outcome is not successful.   Once the item is functional it is tested in the original experiment for which it is intended, where this is possible, and the results are accurately recorded in every possible way.   Photography is useful to record the process through which the item goes through and also its performance.   From this it can be seen that restoration is a scientific activity and since in this case it is applied to instruments that themselves been made for scientific research, it is easy to suppose that the restoration process itself can be proper scientific research and can help in rediscovering facts that may have been neglected through the passing of time.

The next challenge for the museum staff is to bring the appearance of the museum artefacts to do justice to the valuable materials and craft that was used to construct them.   The aim should be to bring every item to a state as if it has been newly constructed of using the original processes and treatments.   The result should be an exhibit worthy of any museum and would be a valuable investment in the culture of science.

RL 29/10/04