F.A.O. is for Kaster Kit

Or; 'From Our Archive'! A couple of cuttings saved for the hobby by James Chase showing what lengths kids might have to, or be made (by practical-minded parents) to go to -  to create cheap armies - before the advent of rack toys!

To be honest, your time will be betterspent going here where the story is both fuller and better-illustrated! But I do mutter "Everything will be here in the end - if I live long enough", and to that end and because I've faffed about with the images and carried the cuttings around for 14-odd years I'm posting it anyway, but the link tells the story proper!

Available from FAO Schwarz, this cutting probably dates from the 1950's, but could be from slightly earlier or later; Mr. Chase's archive (and collection) dated from just before the war through to about 1977, although [I understand] he continued to be active in the hobby until his passing in the mid-2010's, his collection - which filled a Christie's and an SAS's sales - seems to have petered out around the time of the 'modern age', as all the old names were folding. The mould prices will be a clue?

Text Reads:

No 11 /21---Kaster Kit---Boys actually cast their

own lead soldiers with this efficient Kaster Kit. It is

of sturdy all metal construction measuring 5 ½" x

10" and sets [sic] on a steady mounting, safe to use •

Heat is supplied by a built an heating unit con-

nected to the house current. Complete with in-

dividual soldier mold, lead, instructions. Cord and

plug included. Chrldren will turn out army after

army each soldier perfectly molded Very easy to

operate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5.99

Individual Molds for Kaster Kit---This special group

of molds for casting for above kit.

No. 11 /117---Army Officer Mold . . . . . . . .   $  .50

No. 11 /31  ---Infantry Mold (one figure) . . .     .50

No. 11 /176---Indian Mold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    .50

No. 11 /177---Howitzer Mold . . . . . . . . . . . . .    .50

No. 11 /178---Infantry Mold (two figures) . . .   .50

No. 11 /30  ---Cavalry Mold . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    .50

No. 11 /103---Airplane Mold . . . . . . . . . . . . .     .50

No. 11 /179---Battleship Mold . . . . . . . . . . . .    .50

No. 11 /26  ---Cowboy Mold . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   .50

No. 11 /99  ---Tank Mold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    .50

No. 11 /190---Kneeling Soldier Mold . . . . . .    .50

No. 11 /119---Machine Gunner Mold . . . . . . .   .50

No. 11 /7    ---Metal for melting purposes . . .   .50

No. 11 /214---Set ol 6 specially prepared

     Paints with brush . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1.25

Not illustrated

No 11 /196---Kaster Kit (Slush Mold Type)---Only

casting outfit that produces hollow castings. With

1 mold and 12 pigs of metal. For A.C. or D.C. $5.95

Individual Slush Molds for above Kit:

No. 11 /181---Slush Mold Cannon . . . . . . . . .  $  .75

No. 11 /182---Slush Mold Sailor . . . . . . . . . . .     .75

No. 11 /183---Slush Mold Marine Officer . . . .     .75

No. 11 /184---Slush Mold Airliner . . . . . . . . . .    .75

No. 11 /185---Slush Mold Warrior (Indian) . . .    .75

No. 11 /186---Slush Mold U. S. Soldier . . . . .     .75

No. 11 /187---Slush Mold U. S. Officer . . . . . .    .75

No. 11 /188---Slush Mold Coldstream Guard     .75

I've had to enhance the photocopies which were made on a rudimentary - probably Xerox - machine sometime in the 1950's or '60's, by pushing the contrast up and deepening the shadows, I wonder if these ever come on the market in a workable state, although they have been replaced by lightweight and safer/more reliable ones - I have one (a modern one) somewhere; odd-lot at auction as it happens; with Prinze August Ericsson moulds!

The illustrated moulds above look pretty generic and solids as opposed to the unillustrated hollow-cast 'slush' moulds. I think one or two (Indian and elephant?) were available here through Agasee, or 'copies of'! AC Gilbert's Kaster Kit - anyone got one? Still using it?

This was going to post weeks ago and I even thought I had posted it in one eMail conversation, but I hadn't, as having found the link above, I realised I had a finished casting (I've probably got several, but this one stood out) of the sailor, so held the article until I could find him again, which I did.

As he turned-up in the UK I imagine he's actually been cast from the Agasee home-casting mould No.163 Sailor Saluting, but it's nice to be able to tie them (Agasee, Gilbert and Schwarz) all in together! And - of course - it's the same Gilbert as the later rack-toy imports of James Bond we looked at twice a week or so ago!