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Although Hammer left Russia in 1930, he continued to use his Soviet connections to his benefit. In Paris he opened a bank specializing in Soviet bonds. He became the foremost exporter of Russian art treasures, selling them through high-profile galleries and massmarketing retailers such as Gimbels and Lord and Taylor. For the remainder of his life he would be known as one of the world's foremost art collectors and dealers. Anticipating the end of Prohibition in 1933, Hammer bought a barrel manufacturer. Most barrel manufacturers had gone out of business during Prohibition, so Hammer had the market virtually to himself. The Soviets sold him high-quality white oak for barrel manufacturing at below market cost, and once again Hammer made a fortune. In 1941 he went into the distilling business in earnest, developing innovative refining techniques for vodka, which, naturally enough, he had first learned in Russia. By the end of...
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This section contains 160 words (approx. 1 page at 300 words per page) |
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