Rita Robben
I was one of 11 children raised in Southwest Ohio. In 1982 I married My husband Rick who was one of 14. As a child I was around the family welding business but did not find it artistic enough to make it my career.
In 1984 I started learning My craft from a master silversmith in a specialized Metal Shop in southwest Ohio. There my training concentrated on the repair, fabrication and restoration of fine sterling filled and non- filled hollowware. (Candlesticks, Candelabras, Dresser Sets, Tea sets, Ivory, Ebony insulators and much more). I restored items from companies like Bron-Shoe, Cincinnati Plating, and others. This afforded me a wonderful knowledge base and technical skills restoring sterling holloware, Silver Plate, brass, copper and pewter.
Later I would serve as Cincinnati Plating and Repair Master Silversmith. I was the silver hollow ware restoration and fabrication specialist for several years until I opened my own Metal Restoration Company “Robben Metal Restoration”.
My Restoration Shop
In 2007, I built an efficient new shop in West Harrison Indiana, near my home office. In my restoration shop I use many tools, some I purchased, but there are 10 tools I use on every item I restore. Those tools I designed and handcrafted to fit my needs and hands.
I feel privileged to have restored heirlooms that customers from all over the country entrusted to me to bring back to the original beauty. I am honored when a customer receives their heirloom back and tells me they never thought it could even be restored much less be beautiful again. My 40 plus years restoring sterling filled and non-filled hollowware has earned me the reputation as “The go to Silver Restoration Specialist in the industry.”
My father told me two important things about business that I have found to be very true. If you are good at your craft and do good work, you will never want for work. Second, find a profession that you truly love to do because you will wake up every day to do that job. I hit the profession lottery because I love waking up to my job every working day!!