Of all materials, iron has probably been the most essential to the development of modern civilization. America had rich deposits of iron ore, coal, and limestone, all necessary ingredients for the production of usable iron, early on the U.S. was destined to become a world leader in the iron industry especially following the Civil War, when there was a boom in the  demand for iron for railroad construction. The vast majority of cast-iron toys were made in the United States up until the start of World War II, when production of these toys basically ceased. 

Making cast-iron toys involves two basic procedures -- creating a prototype of the toy, and casting the metal. Mechanical banks were some of the most challenging to make because they had to be hollow, made in separate pieces and many times had working spring mechanisms that had to be added prior to final assembly. This is why true antique banks demand such a price in the collectible toy markets today. 

The most common method for making cast iron toys was sand casting. Patterns of parts were placed in a box that was open at the top and bottom. It was then packed firmly with special damp sand mixed especially to maintain an impression. Next, generally a brass pattern part was carefully removed leaving a void in the sand mold that could be filled with molten iron. Finally all the cast-iron parts were cooled, cleaned, filed, assembled with bolts, and the finished toy was painted. 

Typical Antique Cast-Iron Toys 
Many, many toy vehicles were crafted from cast-iron.  They were simply reproductions of full-size ones although there were also a few fanciful examples such as the numerous bell toys-animals and various objects mounted on wheels with an attached bell that rang as the toy moved across the floor. Best known of the bell-toy makers was the Gong Bell Manufacturing Company, which probably produced the first example, the Revolving Chimes Bell, in 1873. 

Early cast-iron toy manufacturers followed the lead of the tinplate toy makers, even to the extent of producing toy versions of vehicles no longer in use. Many late 19th century, toy  cast-iron horse-drawn vehicles (carriages) have an archaic look that could lead new collectors to believe they are much older than they are. After 1900 remarkably accurate versions of such popular vehicles as the Model T Ford, Yellow Cab, Cord Supercharger, and Mack Truck appeared. Makers of these accurate examples include Hubley, Arcade, and Dent. 

Cars, trucks, and trains constituted the majority of these cast-iron toys, but even dirigibles and planes appeared in the 1920s. There were even a few boats and ships, the most interesting of which are the 19th century steamboats by makers such as Ives. Only a few of these vehicles are powered -- usually by clockwork -- since the weight of the iron made such animation difficult and impractical. 

An interesting collectible (toy soldiers) were generally made of lead or other alloys, but one American firm, Grey Iron of Pennsylvania, actually made toy soldiers made of cast iron. In fact, although this metal had long been used for the various figures associated with cast-iron vehicles, such as drivers, engineers, and passengers,  Grey is thought to have been the world's only producer of military figures in cast iron. In 1917 Grey was granted a patent for 40-millimeter soldiers, termed the Grey Klip Armie, which the firm continued to make until 1941. 

A Few Examples of True Antique Cast-Iron Toys
Don't be fooled by the name, but  Catfish-Hollow has some nice examples of early American antique cast-iron toys. Some are actually for sale and a few command some nifty prices. One could only be lucky enough to find one of these on their next "flea market" outing.