Examination is the preliminary procedure taken to determine the original structure and materials comprising an artifact and the extent of its deterioration, alteration and loss. Restoration is the action taken to return a deteriorated or damaged artifact as nearly as is feasible to its original form, design, color, and function with minimal further sacrifice of aesthetic and historical integrity. Little pertinent information can be found that is directly related to the conservation of early scientific instruments. There has been minimal interest in this important aspect of American history as shown by the content of literature. There have been attempts by some interested individuals to provide limited prescriptive data which often proves inadequate when reviewed and if used by an unskilled practitioner could be dangerous to self and damaging to the artifact.
Opinions are prolific but often lack substance.
Outside of communication within the conservation community there is little remedial direction offered to the serious enquirer. There exists at this time within the surveying profession little common ground for communication. There are exceptions, of course, but the constraints far outweigh the freedom of access to potentially useful information that could support serious study or attract conservators to the field. Conservators in general have access to extensive and growing documentation on methods of practice in their respective fields. There are variants, of course, justifiable and essentially understood.