Oscar Robinson Sr., 85, pioneering black jeweler

OSCAR ROBINSON was the man to see on the second floor of a store in the area around Philadelphia's famous Jewelers Row.

He was the man whom other jewelers started climbing the stairs to see, bringing with them jewelry that needed repairing. As his reputation grew, more and more jewelers climbed those stairs.

He became known as "the man behind the man."

Oscar C. Robinson Sr., a 60-year master jeweler, who both repaired and made jewelry for an expandsive list of patrons that included customers overseas and some prominent celebrities, died Oct. 25. He was 85 and lived in Mount Airy.

When he took a watchmaking class at Bok Technical High School, Oscar was the only African-American in the class, and it was the last watchmaking course the school offered.

In his teen years, Oscar worked as an errand boy for companies including S. Kind & Sons, at Broad and Chestnut streets, where he watched in fascination as the craftspeople made watches and jewelry.

Seeing his interest, some of the craftsmen took the time to show the kid some tricks of the trade.

His country called him in 1953 and Oscar enlisted in the Army. He became an ordnance specialist and attained the rank of staff sergeant. After his discharge, he spent 20 years in the Army Reserve and was called back to active duty briefly during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.

After his discharge in 1959, Oscar went to work for the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia as a medal maker.

He soon decided he wanted more of a challenge and started to look for a place for his own business. He found space on the second floor of a building at 8th and Chestnut streets.

Pearl Heart Jewelers was on the first floor, and its owners quickly realized that the man upstairs could do a superior job as a jewelry repairman.

Oscar also did work for Gimbels and for Bailey Banks & Biddle, among others. As his reputation grew, more customers began arriving on the second floor. He made jewelry for such stars as Pearl Bailey and Duke Ellington.

For many years, Oscar was the only African-American jeweler in business for himself in the Jewelers Row area, the iconic neighborhood centered on Sansom Street between 7th and 8th streets. Oscar even served as president of the Jewelers Row Association.

He closed his shop about six years ago but continued to work part time fixing watches at a beauty salon operated by his mother-in-law, Gladys Harper Robinson, at 13th and Venango streets.

"He wanted to keep busy," said his daughter-in-law Cheryl Harper. "He loved his work and being around people."

Oscar was a longtime member of St. Simon the Cyrenian Church, in South Philadelphia. On Sundays after early-morning services there, he would travel to North Philadelphia to catch the 10:45 a.m. service at Zion Baptist Church, pastored by his friend the late Rev. Leon Sullivan.

Sullivan made him an honorary member of Zion Baptist.

As a Mason, Oscar was associated with numerous Masonic groups in the city and was honored with the rank of 33rd Degree Mason. He was a jeweler for Prince Hall Masons.

He married the former Gladys King Harper in 1983. Besides his wife, he is survived by a son, Oscar C. Robinson Jr.; two stepsons, Ronald Harper and ReCarter Harper; a brother, William Mingledors; four sisters, Gertrude Eaddy, Dallas Culpepper, Willa Johnson and Wilma Mingledors; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a daughter, Torri A. Robinson, and a brother, James C. Robinson IV.

Services: 11 a.m. Friday at Zion Baptist Church, 3600 N. Broad St. Friends may call at 9 a.m. Masonic service 10 a.m. Burial will be in Chelten Hills Cemetery.