Abstract: A metal melt casting apparatus comprises a vessel for containing the melt and having a wall portion having a downwardly pointing melt tapping hole, the vessel tilting so that this wall portion can be raised and lowered. A fountain has a top for receiving the melt when registered with said tapping hole and a bottom for connection with the bottom of a mold. A gas-tight elastically deflectible sealing means interconnects the tapping hole and the fountain top when the mentioned wall portion is lowered thereon by tilting of the vessel. The sealing means is made in the form of two parts which elastically flexibly engage when the converter wall with the tapping hole is lowered on the top of the fountain, one part being connected to the wall and the other part being connected to the fountain. The sealing means is provided with a gas passage so that the tapping metal stream may be subject to evacuation for degassing or surrounded by an inert gas.