RT Journal Article
T1 Preserving skills and knowledge in heritage machinery operations
A1 Pippi  Carty-Hornsby
YR 2022
VO 
IS Autumn 2021
K1 craft science
K1 heritage machinery
K1 industrial heritage
K1 industrial skill
K1 knowledge loss
K1 machine operation
K1 practice-led research
K1 skills
K1 tacit skills
AB This article details an approach to knowledge capture on a collection of working textile machinery at the Science and Industry Museum. The machinery collection dates between 1880 and 1955 and the knowledge capture process outlined in the case study was prompted by the retirement announcement of the last machine operator on staff with first-hand experience of the textile industry.
Heritage machinery demonstrations provide a unique opportunity for visitors to museums to experience the sights, smells and sounds of Britain’s industrial past. However, with many of the operating roles in the sector being staffed by an ageing population, heritage machinery demonstrations are at risk of substantial knowledge loss over the coming years. Without intervention, many of the tacit skills and knowledge that the operators hold will be lost, along with the opportunity for the public to learn from and experience the machinery first-hand.
The method outlined in this article includes a review of existing documentation, operation recording and interrogation of results, comparison and discussion with stakeholders, and production of documentation and resources. The results of this process included a set of documents that reflected both modern health and safety and conservation and collections care guidelines, as well as cross-media resources that can be used as a future training aid. Though the case study detailed here features textile machinery, it is applicable across many strands of heritage machinery and could provide a useful tool for similar ‘at-risk’ machinery operations in museums and other cultural institutions.
PB The Science Museum Group
SN 2054-5770
LA eng
DO 10.15180/211602
UL https://journal.sciencemuseum.ac.uk/article/preserving-skills-and-knowledge-in-heritage-machinery-operations/
WT Science Museum Group Journal
OL 30