Goodyear’s Desk Receives Conservation

WATERBURY — Charles Goodyear’s desk underwent conservation on January 12, thanks in part to the generous support of the Manufacturer’s Fund at the Connecticut Community Foundation.

The desk has been maintained in excellent condition over the decades, but requires cleaning and refurbishment of its rubber surface and brass ornamentation to ensure its preservation. A symbol of the energies of Charles Goodyear and the development of the rubber industry — including the invention of rubber vulcanization, or treating with sulphur at great heat in order to improve elasticity and strength or to harden the product, in 1839 in Sandy Hook — the Goodyear Rubber Desk plays a significant role in telling the story of area manufacturing in The Mattatuck Museum’s history exhibit, “Coming Home: Building Community in a Changing World.”

The museum secured the conservation services of Susan Holbrook of Holbrook & Hawes in Bethany. Ms Holbrook earned a master’s of arts in the conservation of historical objects from the University of Durham in the United Kingdom. She has extensive experience in the field, most recently working on object conservation from the American Wing of Yale University Art Gallery.

A gift from Uniroyal, the rubber desk has been on display at the Mattatuck Museum for over 22 years, and is an important icon of the Naugatuck Valley communities’ industrialization.

The desk was produced during the early years of Goodyear’s struggle to market his method of making rubb5er pliable, durable, and long lasting. It was exhibited at the 1851 Crystal Palace in London and shown again at the 1855 Exposition Universelle in Paris.

Goodyear’s obsession with rubber never brought him wealth and riches, but did result in the invention and manufacture of many articles we take for granted today. He sold his patent to many licensees, and when a number of them consolidated in 1892, they formed the US Rubber Company, the largest rubber company in the nation with headquarters in Naugatuck. After treatment the desk will continue to be exhibited in the Orton P. Camp, Jr. Gallery of Community History.

The Mattatuck Museum Arts & History Center is operated with support from the Connecticut Commission on Cultural & Tourism, and is a member of the Connecticut Art Trail, 15 world class museums and historic sites across the state.

Located at 144 West Main Street, Waterbury, the museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, and Sunday from noon to 5 pm; call 203-753-0381 extension 10 or visit MattautkcMuseum.org for additional information.