Lyman ingot moulds with a backwards N

[Ohio Rusty]

I have two older Lyman ingot moulds that cast 4 one pound ingots. What make them unique is the 'N' is backwards in the cast word LYMAN in the bottom of the mould. The ingot comes out with the LYMA looking normal and the N is backwards. Are these mould worth anything as a fairly rare collectable item ??

[rancher1913]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&sour...73998706977855

current production

guess yours is backwards, as to value, your guess is as good as anybodies.

[Chill Wills]

Maybe to someone that collects Lyman/Ideal items. I think it would be a very narrow market.

[oldhenry]

I have one acquired in early '60s. I think that's the way they were in that era. I value it because it's made of cast iron.

[Green Frog]

You’ll probably have a harder time finding one with a correct N. They were made like yours for a long time with a lot of them being in circulation... I have two of them myself.

Froggie

[Pressman]

Finding one with the correct N orientation would be the same as finding aluminum mould handles. Interesting, but who cares??

[GBertolet]

My 3 are backwards also.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I believe my Lyman ingot mold has all the letters in correct format, but I have a Saeco ingot mold that has one letter that's mirror image...at one time, I thought that was rare.

[lightman]

They were pretty common. I doubt that they will get much attention from collectors. I value mine because it belonged to my Grandfather who got me into reloading and casting. They do have a certain "cool" factor!

[44magLeo]

If you have others that have the N the right way you can use them to help ID different alloys.
Leo

[beagle]

Shades of carpetman! Carperman was a frequent poster on the old Shooters site way back when. The backwards N in Lyman ingot moulds was his favorite subject. I guess Lyman made a big run like that and next time corrected the mistake. They're not rare and has been mentioned, you'll probably find more like that than the normal ones at gun shows and estate sales.

But, it's a good post and brought back fond memories of Felix, Carpetman, Petey, Oregon Mark, Grumble, the Mad Mexican and all the other good casters that have left the range./beagle

[Green Frog]

I just looked through a box of miscellaneous stuff and found three more Lyman ingot moulds I “inherited”... all three with the backwards “n” so I can safely say they aren’t rare. I now own 5 of them and no “normal” ones.

Maybe I’ll start casting up ingots of range scrap and selling them on flea-Bay as “rare reverse N ingots.”

Froggie

[Beerd]

Looks like the L is backwards to me
..

[Walks]

I've got 4 or 5 , never paid attention.

[Green Frog]

I just looked at some pure lead ingots that I recently got from John Goins. They all have the correct N on them. I’m guessing he had to Beagle his ingot moulds to make them cast correctly!

Froggie

[Wild Bill 7]

I have one and N is backwards also. It is pretty old, a friend gave me some of his old lead melting stuff cause he wasn't going to use it anymore. I also have a Lyman lead melting pot that hold a few pounds of lead. It has never been used and still has the waxed paper wrapped around it. Amazingly it has no rust on it considering it has been garage stored for many years here in SWF.

[bangerjim]

Very common items. I have several.

banger