This is a very real toy designed for twelve year olds in 1936 by the A.C. Gilbert Company. And yes, it used molten lead to cast toy figures. Lead is a very toxic metallic element that can cause all kinds of developmental and neurological problems. However, handling toys made of lead is actually very low risk, especially if you wash your hands after handling the lead figures. This is because solid lead is not easily absorbed through the skin. This does not mean that we shouldn’t be worried about