7 Things to Know:  Mumford Restoration's Apprenticeship Program

At Mumford Restoration, we take pride in our peerless craftsmanship and attention to detail. 

Since Bernard Mumford founded Mumford Restoration in 1982, we’ve had a 2-part mission: 

• Saving the antiques and buildings that our ancestors made so proudly
• Preserving traditional craftsmanship

We’ve succeeded! 

We’ve been very fortunate to have found and trained gifted artisans who we trust with our clients’ beloved heirlooms and collectables. 

And we’ve never been bored!

We have the most exciting variety of treasures to work in: from pianos, oil paintings, chandeliers, upholstery, custom woodworking, seat weaving, trunk restoration, and more!

Every day, a new client brings us a family heirloom and tells us “I didn’t even know people did this kind of work anymore! I’m so glad to find someone who can help me fix this!” 

The work we do is still important and still in demand. 

We believe in craftsmanship and are passionate about keeping it alive.

Passing the Torch

We realize there is an additional and crucial element to craftsmanship: ensuring that the skill is passed down. 

We want to be sure that, in 100 years, craftspeople will still be practicing the traditional techniques that we champion.

We need enthusiastic new artisans to make that happen. Since no one is born knowing how to repair antiques, we have to nurture them and instill this knowledge.

Since 2021, the leadership team at Mumford Restoration has been building and refining its apprenticeship  program. 

Our program is expanding to include apprenticeships in:

• furniture restoration
• furniture repair
• trunk restoration
• seat weaving
• upholstery
• woodworking/carpentry (building furniture, custom built-ins, architectural woodwork and millwork, wood turning and carving, and anything else you can imagine)
  

Apprenticeships have become increasingly rare in the past decades, so you may have questions about what an apprenticeship entails and where it will take you. 

We’ll explore the answers to these 7 questions:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. What is an apprenticeship?
                                       2. What is the difference between an apprenticeship & trade school? 
                                       3. What are apprenticeships like at Mumford Restoration?
                                       4. Where can I learn carpentry (or seat weaving, or upholstery)? Is Mumford Restoration the best place?
                                       5. How much money can I make as an apprentice?
                                       6. How much money can I make as a journeyman?
                                       7. How do I apply for an apprenticeship?

1. What is an apprenticeship?

Apprenticeship structure and required time can vary from industry to industry.

Generally, an apprenticeship consists of first shadowing the master craftsperson, then completing tasks appropriate to the apprentice’s expanding skill set.

After some time, the apprentice is trusted to complete more work independently, but the master craftsperson will oversee, guide, and evaluate the apprentice’s work. 

After a set number of years of apprenticeship, the apprentice becomes a “journeyman.” 

A journeyman is a very competent and knowledgeable craftsperson who does not yet have the decades of experience required of a “master crafts person”.

2. What is the difference between an apprenticeship and trade school? 

Trade school generally involves set class times and formal study in addition to practical work to reinforce the lessons learned. 

An apprenticeship is 100% hands-on training.

There is no formal class time–no desks or chalkboards.

You can certainly benefit from spending time reading about the principles behind the work you do, but it’s optional work that an apprentice can do on their own time.

For an apprenticeship, the lessons primarily come from talking with and observing the master craftsperson. 

3. What are apprenticeships like at Mumford Restoration?

At Mumford Restoration, the time depends on the skill you want to learn.

A seat weaving apprenticeship can consist of several months of closely supervised one-on-one work with our seat weaver. This will then be followed by a year or so of guided but independent work that our seat weaver will examine and suggest corrections for when necessary.

An upholstery apprenticeship will involve 2 months of observation and simple upholstery tasks, followed by 6-8 months of guided work. The second year of work will be largely independent but will be regularly assessed by our master upholsterers. 

A carpentry apprenticeship is among our longer and most closely supervised apprenticeships. The apprentice carpenter will shadow our master carpenter for several weeks before they are given small tasks that the master carpenter will supervise and evaluate. As the apprentice gains more sophisticated skills, the master carpenter will allow the apprentice to work on projects appropriate to their current level. The master carpenter will regularly observe and evaluate the apprentice’s work and suggest adjustments and improvements.

4. Where can I learn carpentry (or seat weaving, or upholstery)? Is Mumford Restoration the best place?

Mumford Restoration is certainly an excellent place to learn. Our master carpenter has over 30 years of woodworking experience and spent many years as a director of a carpentry school in Argentina. He is a gifted carpenter and a dedicated teacher. 

Below, our mater carpenter takes a selfie as he develops the clamping system for antique church pews.

Note that those are nails between his teeth and not a quirky choice of a lip piercing.

Our seat weaver grew up watching her grandmother hand cane, rush, and weave shaker tape seats. This is a family tradition! She is also very mechanically minded and is our go-to for head-scratching repairs on items such as printing presses, type writers, antique toys, and anything else you can imagine!

Our upholsterers watched their parents carefully measure time and time again, make exact cuts, and spend hours at the sewing machine to transform tattered chairs into tailored pieces. They take tremendous pride in their ability to bring out the beautiful lines of a chair or sofa. 

These artisans have spent many years perfecting their craft and see their artistry as an heirloom itself. 

The better question is what do you want? 

Do you want to make this your career and commit to mastering a specific craft or crafts? 

If so, Mumford Restoration’s apprenticeship program is the right place! 

Are you more interested in pursuing the craft as a hobby? If so, it may be better to find community colleges or specialty classes in the area. 

This apprenticeship program is designed to create highly skilled tradespeople that will be able to repair, preserve, and restore antiques. Our mission is to preserve artistry while also creating future business owners and contractors that will keep the antique repair and restoration trade alive. 

5. How much money can I make as an apprentice?

It depends on how seriously you dedicate yourself to the craft.

You will be regularly evaluated for knowledge and skill.

As you progress and are able to contribute to the work we do, you will be eligible for commensurate pay. 

6. How much money can I make as a journeyman?

Once you complete your apprenticeship, you will be able to work independently.

It’s up to you whether you choose to remain full time at Mumford, open your own business, or contract your skills out to other businesses and clients. 

Most tradespeople that contract their work out will negotiate a price, which depends on the materials required, the time involved, and the complexity of the work.

The number of skilled artisans in the area will also affect the price a journeyman can charge.

The rarer your skill set is, the greater your compensation will be. 

7. How do I apply for an apprenticeship?

We are looking for mature, organized, and enthusiastic new apprentices!

Do you think an apprenticeship might be right for you? 

Send an email to bernard@mumfordrestoration.com with your resume and a little information about why you are interested in this apprenticeship. 

If you are an educator, community leader, or just someone who knows a group of interested potential apprentices, we can arrange a group information session. Let us know!

Bernard Mumford will schedule interviews as he finds candidates who are enthusiastic and dedicated to learning the craft. The interview will be an opportunity to tell us a bit more about you as well as to learn more about Mumford Restoration and our apprenticeship possibilities!

We are very excited to empower a new generation of artisans with the essential skills to keep authentic craftsmanship alive and well for generations to come!