This phenomenally rare collection of  puppet head and doll molds from the 1950's and 1960's was discovered in a scrap metal junk yard in New Brunswick, New Jersey in 1978. Primarily Disney, Harvey Famous Cartoons and King Feature's characters, these copper molds by the GUND Company were saved from the smelter by an alert junk yard worker. Fewer than eight hundred pieces in total, there are about 170 unique characters.

Photo: Unusual double headed Donald Duck mold. Two heads were created in one pour. The piece was cut in half, creating faces for two dolls.

Identical molds were frequently collected in "gangs" and secured in a frame while the molds were poured. Some molds still have remnants of their "attachment points". Although the interior of the mold is the area of high relief, the outside follows the inner contours beautifully.

Most of the molds remain in their original "production" condition, i.e. dirty and vinyl spattered, but there are some examples of molds which have been cleaned, and their attachment points removed. The molds are sold "as is".


Unlike cartoon cells or other common collectibles, no one else (to our knowledge) has these molds. Beyond rare, many of the molds are literally one of a kind, and irreplaceable.

Photo: Mickey Mouse paint stencil used to mask the puppet for final painting.

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