Brunner Makes—
(Continued from Page 1)
they come at $15 a lineal foot.
Brunner Trophies Go Places
Skins from other fur animals
are also made into handsome tro
phies. This year Brunner has al
ready made into rugs and neck
pieces about a dozen each of
wolverine, lynx and wolf skins
and a half dozen foxes. Some
times these skins are purchased
from trappers, and sometimes
hunters bring them back.
Many of these trophies will re
main in the Valley. Fine head
specimens will lend “atmosphere’*
to local business establishments,
following the lead of the Mata
nuska Valley Bank and the Pal
mer Fountain. Rugs will grace the
floors and walls of homes as well
as businesses. Other trophies will
go elsewhere in Alaska and to
many of the States. Brunner has
been shipping his completed work
to Texas, Iowa, Missouri, Cali
fornia, Oregon and Ohio. Mem
bers of the Alaska Command—
top brass as well as the humble
serviceman, have been bringing
ALASKAN LYNX IN POCATELLO
A lynx rug made by Jerry Brunner was modeled for photogra
phers in Pocatello, Idaho, this summer by seven-year-old Edward
Hanks while his sisters, Muriel, 10, and Janie. 6 held it in place.
The Hanks children and their mother, Mrs. Lew Hanks, were
visiting her parents there. The pelt was obtained from Trapper
Johnny Luster of Chickaloon last year.
their hunting and fishing trophies
to Brunner’s workshop since word
got around through guides and
local hunters that a professional
taxidermist had set up business
in the heart of Alaska's hunting
grounds. According to Brunner’s
knowledge, he is the only pro
fessional taxidermist in the Ter
ritory.
When Brunner first settled in
Palmer, following a trip to Al
aska in 1949 for the purpose of
lining up an ideal location, he
thought his professional work
would have to be merely a side
line until he could get “estab
lished.” In order to make ends
meet during this interim period,
he found employment at the
Matanuska Experiment Station.
Shortly after the 1950 fall hunting
season, however, he found that
he had a full time job on his
hands.
Trained in Hollywood
Brunner came to Alaska follow
ing five years’ apprenticeship as
a student at the Colburn Taxider
my Studio in Hollywood, where
he worked on many “props” used
in the filming of authentic animal
iife. He made the crocodile with
ivhich Johnny Weismuller fought i
so desperately; and for a movie
advertising stunt, he made a hi|ge
gorilla suit. That suit pordu7 d
many “suits" against the adver
tisers who had it modeled—so
realistically that women swooned
ind grown men fled in terror.
How did Brunner happen to
choose this unusual trade? It all
dates back to the days when he
was a boy in Manitowok, Wiscon
sin. There he liked to hunt and
fish more than anything in the
world. Even then he tried a little
mounting—just for fun. When
injury to his legs following a
plane crash during boot training
in World War II threatened to
terminate his fun as a hunter,
taxidermy seemed to offer a prac
tical substitute.
As soon as Brunner finds larg
er quarters — a 40-foot-square
workshop with a basement be
low would about suit his needs_
he hopes to expand his business
b\ getting a fur dealer’s license,
and making fur products for sale
to t*e public. With requests al
ready on hand, he figures he can
keep five or six persons em
ployed on projects ranging from
fur rugs and neckpieces to tanned
leather for use in garments.
Absolutely Every Item of Civiian Wearing Apparel-Our Business in Military Wearing Apparel Has Grown So Large
That We Must
WORK GLOVES
Heavy White Cotton
Special 25c pr.
Nylon Kits
Keg. $2.25
$1.45
Plastic Kits
Reg. $1.25
95c
All-Leather Kits
Reg. $4.50
$2.95
Zipper Carry-ail Bags
Regular $14.95 . $10.95
Regular $8.95 .$6*95
Regular $6.50.£3*^5
Regular $2.25 .$l!45
Hand Painted Ties
Values to
$2.50 .
Gray Sweat Shirts
Regular $2.50 $ I AC
ONLY . $l'03
All-Woo* Worsted
Dress Slacks % Off
Broken sizes — Values to $20.00
Quilled Jackets
Mouton collar and lining—
Assorted colors and sizes
Regular price
$24.95—NOW .
$14.95
Heavy, Solid Leather
SHOES
Regular price $9.95
NOW
$7.45
WORK PANTS
Values from $3.50-$4.50
Broken sizes
$2.45
WOOL SWEATERS
SPORT SHIRTS
JACKETS, etc.
V3 OFF
Leather Motorcycle
Jackets
Regular $32.50
$24.95
Men’s
LEATHER JACKETS
Values to $25.00
$15.95
MEN’S DRESS
PANTS
80% wool
Sizes 30-36 only
Regular $8.45
$4.95
ALL-WOOL SCARFS
Regular up to $3.50
Now $1.95
ALL FUR GAPS 1/3 OFF
340 Fourth Avenue
Aneharano
OPEN EACH EVENING AND SUNDAY AFTERNOONS FOR CONVENIENCE OF OUR VALLEY FRIENDS