The Tools Behind the Conservators: A New Beginning

A warm welcome from our workshop

Thank you for joining me for the very first issue of my newsletter. I have launched my business with a simple mission: to give art restorers the tools they deserve – equipment designed with precision, durability, and respect for the craft.

Whether you work in a museum, a private studio, or on-site conservation, I know your tools are not just tools. They are extensions of your hands, your judgement, and your responsibility to history.

Why I started this business

I have worked for many years servicing, manufacturing, and designing bespoke equipment through Willard Conservation and when they went into voluntary insolvency there was a huge void left. I heard from so many restorers whom I have dealt with over so many years asking where to go to get the same service they had been used to. I heard from some restorers struggling with their equipment, asking for help with equipment that was no longer working and outdated due to components being no longer available. Others just wanting new equipment made, some had even been sent part made equipment from the receivers which they had no way of putting to use.

My approach is built on three principles:

Accuracy - tools that support delicate, high-stakes work

Safety - equipment that protects both the artwork and the conservator

Longevity - products that last, even under daily studio use

Behind the Scenes

Every piece of equipment I make will be assembled in my workshop. I will test each item individually, because in restoration, even a tiny flaw can become a big problem.

What will be coming next

Over the coming months I will be releasing:

New precision tools for delicate surface work

Specialist lighting designed for conservation environments

I would like to thank you all for being part of my new beginning. This is a very exciting time for me. If you have any suggestions, questions, or tools you wish existed, please let me know. Your insight will shape the business I want to achieve.

Warm Regards

Tony Ferrett

Director & Owner