The first combine harvester in Scotland, the Clayton combine, is being restored for the Scottish Agricultural Museum. Some of the problems associated with the restoration of machinery which has had a long working life with various stages of repair and improvement are discussed. The lack of documentation complicates the work. There are problems specific to the machine being restored; other problems such as the extent of restoration necessary and what stage in the life of the machine is the restoration simulating are general conservation issues. -- AATA