Authenticast stirred questions so I did a little research. It was an east coast company that made spin cast pot metal soldiers, tanks, ships, and airplanes. During WWII they made identification models for the government.
Their box is interesting as it shows early Mantua products…wonder if the made cast parts for them. It was/is common for cooperation between manufacturers; Irv Athearn and Clarence Manteer (sp?) not only had lunch together, they supplied material to each other. Even Con-Cor had MDC cast floors and other parts.
Authenticast also used the Comet trade name. They made cars and trucks, signal bridges, and a few rolling stock items for HO and O Scale. They lasted to the early 1960s and were gone by the time N Scale got going here.
I don’t think there was any connection to the many brands of Athearn.
Charlie Vlk