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Clinton, Iowa 94.7 FM
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He enrolled in the Bradley Horological Division at Bradley University to become a watchmaker. The dean at the university said Don was the best student they had had in the 33 years that he had taught there. Don even became a part time instructor at the university. One of his accomplishments there is a clock that he made completely from scratch. He designed and made all the parts for a clock that the instructor said would never run correctly, but did! The clock is still running and can be seen at the store. After becoming a certified master watchmaker, Don went to work for Kyseth Jewelers in Clarion Iowa in 1958. He is one of the certified master watchmakers in the state of Iowa. Dan is one also.
In May 1959, Don and Marvel had the opportunity to take over Shaw’s Jewelry Store here in Clinton. Shaw sold his inventory and Don and Marvel took over rent on the store that was located at 112 Main Avenue. They lived in the apartment above the store. With only $500 and a will to survive, Don and Marvel Bartels opened Don’s Jewelry. It became one of 14 jewelry stores in Clinton. Today, only 2 remain.
Don and Marvel took a trip to Chicago to buy merchandise for their store from the Ball Company. Don explained his situation to the vice-president and that it was hard to get a bank to help him. He told Don to go pick out what he wanted and then they would talk. Don went in with $500 and came out spending only $300. The vice president said, “That is the first time anyone has ever done that. I’ll go ahead and extend credit to you for 30 days.” Don’s Jewelry became established. Sales the first year grossed $20,000.
Business continued and after 6 years, Don, Marvel and their son Dan moved to the country. Now he had the best of both worlds. They also hired their first employee, Charles Ruehling, to help repair watches. Marvel took care of waiting on customers, answering phones, and doing the bookwork. In 1974, Don’s Jewelry moved to its present location at 119 Main Avenue because the bank needed a parking lot and wanted to tear the store building down. In 1978 their son Dan began working at the store as a full time employee. Besides being able to repair jewelry, watches, and clocks like his father, Dan runs the laser welder that the store acquired to do repairs. In 1995, Dan’s wife Sheralyn joined the business. She manages the store with 7 full time employees and 4 part time employees.
Christmas morning 2005 Marvel left this earth to join the angels celebrating in heaven on such a glorious day. Our sadness eventually fades as we remember her smiling face as she used to greet customers in the store.
Don’s Jewelry opened May 1, 1959 as a jewelry store with full watch, clock and jewelry repairs done on the premises. Almost 50 years later, Don’s Jewelry is going strong with repairs still done on the premises (something most stores have started sending out), and carries many full lines of jewelry, diamonds, watches, clocks, and gifts.
Donald and Marvel Bartels, original owners of Don’s Jewelry, began their life together while Don was in the Navy. While on a destroyer ship heading out of Korea, Don found a watch that was thrown away by one of the men on the ship. It was missing a stem. Don took a screw and file and filed the screw until it fit into the watch as a stem. The watch worked! From then on, whenever a watch needed fixing Don repaired it on the ship.
Don and Marvel always wanted to farm. So, after leaving the Navy and having little money, he went to work for a farmer. Their first Christmas together on the farm, Marvel bought Don a watch. It never seemed to work right and after 6 months Don asked the store why they could not fix his watch. The store replied that they did not have a watchmaker. Therefore, in the fall of 1957, Don received a GI bill to further his education.
The History of Don’s Jewelry
