So sorry for the late reply! The one that is split open a little is two pieces welded together with little welds on the inside. The welds are still intact. They are definitely both cast in molds, they just both have very different manufacturing techniques so I think one or both are repros! The first, solid head just has dust on it regjoe, no paint traces at all. It's just hard to get dust out of the sand casting without getting it wet. When that one gets wet, it rusts very easy! I was thinking about testing the one with white paint for lead but then I realized that a lot of repros were being made in the 70s and lead paint was used until the 70s. And plus, if they are from some questionable factory in China, they are probably still using lead paint these days.
I applied for tickets to the Roadshow and will know day after tomorrow if I got tickets. I was thinking about taking these just so that maybe they can tell me how to spot repro cast iron in the future and to settle my nerves about these two! I'd get to take 4 items, so I'd have to find two other things to take. I still didn't take more pictures of them, I completely forgot! I will soon.
