The surveying artifacts that remain today from the colonial period of our country's history are important as historical representations of the art of the colonial instrument maker. These makers, often working under less than ideal conditions, produced a group of instruments that are treasured as artistic and historical statements of that period. Unfortunately, construction techniques and historical data can be lost once the road is embarked upon to polish an instrument strictly for beauty's sake.
Jeffrey Lock has been involved in the field of antique restoration for 35 years. During the last 10 years he has specialized in antique surveying instruments from the 17th and 18th centuries and his expertise focuses on the individual, artistically crafted instruments of the American Colonial period. Jeff's love of fine craftsmanship has driven his quest to solve the mystery surrounding the creation of these beautiful and functional scientific tools.
In his restoration work, Jeff has been able to duplicate the methods and techniques used by Colonial instrument makers, including his study and mastery of reproducing the engraving styles of the 16th to 18th centuries. This perspective allows him to detail an instrument's originality and pinpoint later restorations by other craftsmen.
He has assisted many museum curators regarding the proper evaluation of the institution's collection of 18th-century surveying instruments. Most recently Jeff performed conservation work on important instruments from the collections of the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia. He has also advised several prominent auction houses in evaluating notable instruments consigned for sale.
Jeff has given presentations and published many articles within this particular field, most of which can be accessed by visiting his Web site. He has completed extensive research at major institutions both in the United States and England and was a guest lecturer at Oxford University in the Masters Program on Scientific Instruments. Jeff is a member of the Scientific Instrument Society and the Surveyor's Historical Society.
Anatomy of a Restoration
Colonial Instruments now offers Museum Conservation Work.
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Jeffrey Lock has been involved in the field of antique restoration for 35 years. During the last 10 years he has specialized in antique surveying instruments from the 17th and 18th centuries and his expertise focuses on the individual, artistically crafted instruments of the American Colonial period. Jeff's love of fine craftsmanship has driven his quest to solve the mystery surrounding the creation of these beautiful and functional scientific tools.