These are the actual sets Robert used to make candy in the late 19th and early 20 century in Salt Lake City. Although it was expensive, Robert Gardiner's oldest daughter, Margaret Amelia's descendants reproduced some sets a metal alloy material called "composition," not cast iron. Cast iron molds are nearly back and are even heavier.
The "inscription" on the rabbits is probably the Thomas Mills mold number. Since there are few numbers on the original Robert Gardiner molds, I've wondered if they were copies, but they all do match molds made by the Thomas Mills Bros company. If you can get a copy of Nancy Fasolt's book "Clear Toy Candy," It includes a Thomas Mills catalog with the mold numbers.
Also, from that catalog I learned that the men on horses are generals, not Indians. (Think of the images of Joseph Smith as a Nauvoo Legion general, and you will see what they meant to portray.) The clocks are just elaborate mantel clocks, not clocks on Christmas trees. The original molds collection did not include a turkey.
Robert had a Deer, Teapot and sets of Clocks, Dogs, Bunnies and Generals on horses. There are a total of 5 different candy molds.
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| On the left is what might appear as an inscription but is unreadable. |
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| Bunnies - 2.5 pounds 2 inches high 6.5 inches wide |
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| Dogs - 4 pounds, 2 inches high, 9 inches wide |
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| Clocks - 1 pound 2.5 inches tall 3.125 inches wide |
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| Teapot - 12 ounces, 2.75 inches tall, 2.5 inches wide l. |
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| Deer - 3.75 pounds, 5.25 inches tall, 3.5 inches wide |
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| Generals on Horses - 6 pounds - 3.5 inches tall, 8.125 inches wide |
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| Robert Gardiner - 6 hard candy molds total |
