06/01/1977 26720

MUSEUM PREPARATOR 2, SKILLED TRADES

DEFINITION: This is skilled specialized work in the application of a variety of skilled trades methods and techniques to the restoration, preparation, and maintenance of museum artifacts and exhibits.

An employee in this class performs work at the advanced journeyman level in carpentry, cabinet-making, painting and finishing, metal- working, electrical work, and other skilled and semi-skilled tasks in restoring, preserving, designing, constructing, preparing, and maintaining museum exhibits, artifacts, period reconstructions, and other exhibit components in the state museum and at field sites. Important aspects of work at this level are the conduct of research to determine the original characteristics of museum objects, performance of experiments or research to discover methods and techniques of producing historically accurate results, and preparation and use of wide variety of tools, machinery, chemicals, and natural or synthetic materials to produce or reproduce authentic artifacts or structural reconstructions. Work involves skilled operation, in the shop or at the work site, of power and hand tools and machines of the carpentry, metal-working, painting, and electrical trades. Work also involves performance of the full scope of skilled and semi-skilled tasks involved in exhibit and artifact preparation, construction, and installation, such as painting, refinishing, and reproducing or restoring antique wood or metal objects or period rooms and structural decorations. Work includes fabricating replacement parts and models where methods are not well established, and may also include designing and constructing specialized tools for restoration and construction work. Work also includes leading in preparation, construction, and installationprojects and assisting the exhibits section chief in providing on-the-job training to preparator trainees and lower level preparators. Supervision is received from the chief of the Exhibits Section, who plans and assigns projects, allowing employees considerable independence in selecting materials, tools, methods, and techniques, subject to review of overall work methods and completed projects for quality, authenticity, and accomplishment of objectives.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Applies the most skilled and difficult skilled trades methods and techniques to the restoration, preservation, design, construction, preparation, and maintenance of museum artifacts, period reconstructions, and other museum exhibit and display components.

Researches and interprets the mechanism, physical properties, and original production techniques of artifacts; refinishes and repairs artifacts and other museum objects; designs and fabricates tools, models, and missing parts from woods, metals, plastics, glass ceramics, and other natural and synethetic materials.

Works independently or leads in constructing or reconstructing interior surfaces, furnishings, and fittings of a room to authentically represent a period in history.

Performs experiments and tests to develop new effective and safe methods and techniques of restoring, preserving, and maintaining museum artifacts and objects or to determine their physical or chemical properties.

Leads in museum exhibit design, construction, and assembly projects and trains and instructs preparator trainees and lower level preparators in methods and techniques of skilled trades museum preparator work.

Performs tasks involving carpentry, cabinet-making, painting and finishing, model building, metal-working, electrical wiring and installing, and similar skilled trades and semi-skilled tasks requiring highly skilled use of machine and tools and materials of the respective trades.

Operates power saws, jointers, planers, spindle shapers, lathes, drill presses, drills, and any other carpentry, metal-working, painting and finishing, and electrical machines and tools required in restoration, construction, preparation, and maintenance work related to museum exhibits.

Performs and leads in the most skilled tasks in finishing or painting, stripping, gluing and regluing, repairing veneer refinishing or painting, reproducing or restoring antique wood or iron work, installing electrical wiring and devices, silk screening, and installing mounting devices and artifacts in exhibits.

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of the full capabilities and most effective methods and techniques or operating and handling the full range of machines, tools, and materials of the carpentry, metal working, painting, electrical, and related trades required in museum exhibit and artifact restoration, construction, and installation work.

Knowledge of the physical properties and characteristics of woods, metals, plastics, glass, ceramics, stains, and other materials and finishes capable of utilization in the restoration, preservation, construction, or composition of museum, artifacts, exhibits, and exhibit components.

Skill in the full range of methods and techniques of welding, machining, engraving, carving, glazing, casting, electroplating, and other arts, crafts, and trades techniques suitable for utilization in the restoration and construction of period room furnishings, clocks, guns, mechanical models, exhibits display shelves and cases, and similar museum artifacts, exhibits, and exhibit components.

Ability to research and interpret information concerning the original characteristics of museum artifacts.

Ability to interpret and duplicate the methods, techniques, and tools originally employed in the production of an artifact or structure in order to restore reconstruct, or construct the artifact or structure in an historically authentic manner.

Ability to adapt materials, tools, and techniques for use in solving new and unusual problems.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: One year as a Museum Preparator 1, Skilled Trades;

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Any equivalent combination of experience and training which would afford the applicant the required knowledges, skills, and abilities.