When
Marcus Reller says he’s from the old school,
he’s not kidding. Reller, the
86-year-old patriarch of
Reller, Inc., a fine jewelry manufacturer in Gainesville,
FL, entered the jewelry trade at 15 as an apprentice in
Vienna, Austria. As
a young apprentice, he’d come to
the shop early in the morning before the
jewelers
arrived, and stoke the wood stove so they’d be warm.
Marcus
Reller 1906 – 1992
c.
1918 - Young Marcus apprenticed to Master
Jeweler, and serves a traditional
seven-year
apprenticeship.
1930
- After several years as a journeyman, Marcus
is awarded the Mastercraftsman
Diploma by Vienna
Gold and Silversmith Guild as a “Casemaker”
specializing
in intricate enameled compacts,
pillboxes, cigarette cases and similar items.
1930-1937 - As
a Mastercraftsman, Reller is now
permitted to open his own jewelry business
and
soon his products are being sold across Europe
through the finest
retailers.
1937
- Nazis invade Austria
1938
- Reller escapes to Italy to avoid persecution
for his anti-Nazi political
activities. (Years later he
confides that his girl friend had been tortured
and
killed by the Nazis.)
1939
- Reller finds work first in Naples and then
in Milan while awaiting reactivation
of a fortunate
1914 Visa application to America. Reller is well
received
by the Italians and never forgets their
hospitality - Visa granted and Reller
sails for
New York.
1940
- Marcus finds employment in New Jersey
and immediately begins trying to bring
mother
and brother out of Europe. Eventually he succeeds
by bringing them
to America through El Salvador.
1946
- With Mathias Austin, Reller established
“Aurel” in New York City producing
high end, die
struck gold watch bracelets for top European and
domestic
brands under the Niagara trademark.
1956
- Aurel is sold. Reller relocates to sunny
Miami, Florida, where he establishes
Reller, Inc.,
producing souvenir Charms for the booming
Florida, Cuba,
Bahamas, and Caribbean tourist
market. - Reller registers the Lone Palm trademark
with the US Patent & Trademark Office as his
trademark of excellence and a
reminder that
after a life of trial and tribulation, he has finally
found
“his place in the sun.”
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