Home casting, promoted as a father-son activity, involved heating the mold “over a gaslight, lamp, candle, or burning paper a few minutes” which also coated the mold in soot to prevent sticking, melting the metal in a ladle over open flame or in an electric heater, and then pouring the molten lead into the hot mold. Figures could be painted after they had cooled. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, companies also promoted home casting as a way for individuals to earn money by producing figures in their home “foundries” for resale. A shortage of lead and other metals during World War II caused a decline in home casting, but its popularity reappeared after the war and continued for several more decades.
Some of the companies involved in the business of home casting sold complete kits as well as indiviudal molds. Kast-A-Toy, Home Foundry, Rapaport Brothers, and Metal Cast Products Co. were some of the major players in this business.
Home Casting Gallery
My collection includes a number of medical and non-medical molds as well as several examples of home casting kits. The references below include attached PDF files of several catalogs and related documents for some of the companies involved in home casting.
- Letter and sample documents from Metal Cast Products Company included with mold order. The included documents let the buyer order boxes, flyers, and circulars to start a personal business selling cast products such as toy soldiers…one of the first multi-level marketing schemes.
- Home Foundry Mnfg. Co. Catalog: The book of treasure for boys and girls. Includes price lists and available kits, molds, and accessories.
- Home Foundry Book of Instructions. Includes instructions for casting soldiers as well as a list of available kits. Also details other products available from the company.
