Furs from .Fromms

Back from Wausau, Wis., where the temperature was 35DEG, to Manhattan, Chicago, Los Angeles, other U. S. fur-trading centres, journeyed last week some 70 fur buyers. At Hamburg, 20 miles from Wausau, is the 12,000-acre silver fox ranch of Fromm Bros., world's largest breeders of bright silver foxes. There last fortnight blond blue-eyed Edward Fromm auctioned off more than 7,500 silver fox pelts for some $540,000. Buyers, fur-capped and ear-muffed, enjoyed their junket. From the Hotel Wausau they took busses to the Hamburg ranch, found free drinks and bowling alleys, Wisconsin maidens serving kosher meats at the ranch clubhouse. Proceeds of the first sale ($200) were donated to a New York Matzoh Fund, a charity devoted to supplying needy Jews with Passover bread. Average pelt was auctioned for about $75; best pelt, bought by Melville Steil, president of Simpson Furs, Los Angeles, brought $465. At the close of the auction, Host Fromm said he had not been "so much gratified" since the day in 1917 when the Fromm brothers paid off the mortgage on their mother's farm. Only sour note came when a Chicago buyer attempted to make off with two bottles of scotch. The Fromm brothers--President Edward, 44; Vice President Henry, 41; Treasurer Walter, 46; Secretary John, 42--got into the fox-raising business in 1909. They followed the trail of a fox & pups to the foxhole. They built a tent over the hole, stood guard till the young foxes came out (see cut, p. 72). Now the Fromms have 2,000 foxes running wild on their ranch near Wausau, another 4,000 in breeding Dens on a ranch near Milwaukee. The 6,000 foxes are valued at about $1,500,000. Since 1917, the Fromms have sold $16,500,000 worth of pelts, with 1935 sales of $819,000, about 10% of the U. S. silver fox total. Fromm foxes mate in February, the titters appearing in 51 days. Biggest expense item, $300,000 a year, is fox food, mostly horse meat, oatmeal, eggs, fruits, vegetables, all served in sterilized bowls. Biggest risk is high fox mortality. In one year nearly half the Fromm foxes died of encephalitis, but now the Fromms have their sick list down to about 5%. Foxes are killed, prior to skinning, by injecting into their nostrils a quarter-ounce of carbon tetrachloride.

The four Fromms all live at the Hamburg ranch, John, the lone bachelor, quartering himself in the warehouse. U. S.-born of German parentage, the brothers still speak German in the family circle. President Edward makes monthly trips to New York. The walls of his office are covered with family portraits and photostats of certified checks (largest, $1,300,000 from New York Auction Co. in 1929). On the dashboard of his Lincoln is a radio remote-control gadget which opens & closes his garage door and turns the lights in the garage on & off. None of the brothers smoke or drink. Each takes only $5,000 a year out of the business as salary.

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