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!

 

2024 - The link seems to have been hijacked by some click-aggregator's shite, so there's nothing there now? This (below link) doesn't say much more than me, but does have some good images!

 

https://www.acghs.org/?page_id=4512

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!