Made In Chicago: Al Bar Platers
(CBS) -- For nearly 80 years, the metalsmiths at Al Bar platers in Wilmette have been creating and restoring silver and other metal pieces for homes around the country, reports WBBM's Regine Schlesinger.
The artisans at Al Bar on Green Bay Road, can restore any metal object or create new ones. Ken Rades is general manager.
"We work really closely, hopefully up front, with the architect and designer on the hardware needs on the particular house," he said.
Silversmith Mark Haugen works with any kind of metal.
"Brass, silver, bronze. We repair statues and we see a lot of silver that comes in during and after the holidays," Haugen said. "Everyone wants to have their silver tea sets out."
He says they can make any metal piece look like new.
Rades says Al Bar is a kind of hospital for metal pieces, with customers across the country.
"We've done the governor's mansion in Georgia," Rades said. "We've done work for both the Illinois Supreme Court and the Illinois State Capitol, the Minnesota State Capitol. We do houses of hardware from coast-to-coast."
Al Bar platers in Wilmette, creating, repairing and restoring metal hardware for nearly 80 years.
For more information, visit www.albarwilmette.com.