Allen & Baron

Since 1937 – Projects from the 21st Century

ceiling fixture | bright nickel plate | restore

December18

ceiling fixture bright nickel plate restore beforeceiling fixture bright nickel plate restore after 1ceiling fixture bright nickel plate restore after 2Over 90 glass globes needed to be removed on this fixture in order for us to prepare it for polishing and nickel plating.  Each globe was hand cleaned before placing it back into place.  The best view of the honeycomb design was from underneath the fixture in the last photo.

andiron restoration | high heat paint

December14

andiron restoration high heat paint beforeandiron restoration high heat paint afterIt’s that time of year to get your fireplace ready for the long, cold winter.  We polished the brass on this pair of andirons and gave the dogs and feet a protective coating of high heat paint.  Tool sets and screening is also something we can restore for you.

ice box hardware | handle | hinge

December3

ice box hardware handleice box hardware hingeThese great ice box handles and hinges are a new addition to our Wilmette Hardware line.  They are available in any finish and would give your kitchen cabinetry that old world look.

spring hinge | polished brass lacquer

November26

spring hinge | polished brass lacquer | restoration | 1spring hinge | polished brass lacquer | restoration | 2Here are some steel spring hinges that Ed our project manager is putting back together after polishing and brass plating.  All hinges need to be taken apart before finishing and re-assembled after to ensure that they function properly.

custom metal tubing | tub faucet

November23

custom metal tubing | tub faucet This exposed tub faucet tubing was too short and needed to be extended in order to reach the fixture.  We supplied the additional tubing, made the precision cuts and hard soldered the connections.  The tubing was polished and a final finish of nickel was applied.

pewter mug | metal repair

November20

pewter mug | metal repair | beforepewter mug | metal repair | afterBad dog!  Fido got a hold of this pewter mug and as you can see, did some serious damage.  Our craftsmen  were able to work and shape the pewter back to it’s original form.  Get that dog a bone!

front door hardware | satin antique brass

November12

front door hardware | satin antique brassHere is a set we turned around the same day for a home in the Chicago suburbs.  An antique brass finish with a lacquer final coating brings new life to a tired finish.

urn & tray | silver plate | restoration

November6

urn & tray | silver plate | restorationThis beautiful tray and urn from the 1800s was restored by our craftsman to it’s original beauty for an area resident.

angle light restoration | antique bronze

October29

angle lamp restoration | antique bronze | beforeangle lamp restoration | antique bronze | afterThis vintage oil angle light was converted to a hanging electric ceiling fixture.  We added new wiring and gave it a warm antique bronze finish with a coating of lacquer.

brass bed | polish & lacquer

October15

blog brass bed beforeblog brass bed afterWith the restoration of a brass bed, we take it totally apart down to it’s individual components.  It is polished to a bright finish (if desired) and lacquered to keep it from aging then reassembled.

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Al Bar Wilmette
127 Green Bay Road
Wilmette, Illinois 60091
www.albarwilmette.com
888.609.1698

Walter Baron, Esquire an attorney who practiced in Chicago, Illinois provided funding for Mr. Burt Allen to start a restoration and plating company in Hubbard Woods/Winnetka, Illinois.  Al Bar was founded, and these two gentleman later merged with Wilmette Electroplaters (founded in 1937).  This blog was created to exhibit some of the present day projects we work on for both local clients and out of town customers.  We at Al Bar Wilmette look forward to work on your project to continue the history of this fine establishment.