Paul,
I have similar memories. In the late seventies, I and three friends had a small commercial reloading business that serviced primarily the LE community. For a couple of years,we cast our own bullets. We had two .38 148 full wadcutter H&G 10 cavity molds, and two .38 158 SWC H&G 10 cavity molds.
We used two 20 pound Saeco open top electric pots for melting and a Lyman 10 pound bottom pour for casting. And we used a 30 gallon drum, cut in half, for dropping the bullets into cold water.
We also had two star lubers, one set up for each bullet type. We made our own bullet lube out of STP oil treatment, paraffin and an ingredient that I'm hesitant to mention.
I agree with you about the wonferful memories, the cold nights, the hot lead and the cold beer.
We outgrew the ability to cast our own and started buying bullets. Our two C-H progressive reloaders gave way to an Ammoload machine, and our line expanded to include 9MM, .45 ACP and .357 Magnum.
I had to leave the business a couple of years after that, but I still remember the pleasure of casting and loading thousands of bullets/cartridges in an evening. I especially remember, and miss, the comraderie.