Al Bar-Wilmette Platers

Specialties

At Al Bar-​Wilmette Platers, we specialize in restoring historic hardware and metal fixtures, as well as providing many services to assist in your home remodeling project. We restore metal finishes, furnish missing parts, repair lamps and chandeliers, refurbish locks, and plate new hardware to match historic finishes. For decades, homeowners have found that, with our help, their original hardware looks as good as the day it was first installed.

If you are restoring a home give us a call. With more than 250 years of collective experience, our craftsman take great care to preserve your hardware.

Other Services

–lamp repair & rewiring

–silver repair & restoration

–custom casting of missing or broken parts

–finish matching on plumbing hdwe, lighting, etc.

–salvage hardware collection

–great music

History

Established in 1937.

Al Bar Laboratories, Inc. was founded by two craftsmen dedicated to the restoration and preservation of fine silver and started the company as a hobby for all practical purposes. The two famous craftsman were Allan and Barnard and started their business in Kenilworth, Illinois.

About the same time Al Bar was being started a local Wilmette business was also being started — it was located on Green Bay Road. Wilmette Electroplaters performed a full variety of services for the local community and Chicago.

The two firms moved to 127 Green Bay Road in the 1940’s and formed Al Bar — Wilmette Platers. Since then Al Bar — Wilmette Platers has become a leader in restoration and preservation

We acquired the famous Gilbertson Silver Company, founded in 1901, that was located in Chicago, Illinois for over 100 years. Gilbertson’s performed all of the silver restoration for Marshall Field and Company as well as many high profile clients in the Chicago area.

Meet the Business Owner

Gregory B.

Business Owner

Greg earned his MBA from Lynchburg College in Virginia and a BS in Business Finance from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. He worked at Liberty University in the role of Budget Director and also at InService America in the capacity of Chief Financial Officer. He also worked with Stephen Winchell and GOP​Shoppe​.com for Philly2000 and was involved with the master vendor for 54^th Presidential Inauguration.

His passion for our work is evidenced by our continued quality, growth and success. Today we have 20 employees dedicated to continuation of the previous generations’ work, quality and passion. Greg is married, and has three children.

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«This is a great fabric store just down the street!»