Abstract: A ladling apparatus for picking up a preselected amount of molten metal from a bath, and for transferring and pouring this molten metal into the cold chamber of a die casting machine. The apparatus includes an elongated transfer arm which is swingably movable within a substantially vertical plane between filling and pouring positions, in which positions the arm extends outwardly from opposite sides of the apparatus. A ladle assembly is hingedly mounted on the transfer arm adjacent the free end thereof. The ladle assembly is freely hinged in a suspended upright position when the arm is in the filling position and is maintained in this upright position as the arm swings toward the filling position. The ladle engages the arm, which acts as a solid stop and causes tilting of the ladle assembly, as the arm approaches its pouring position to result in automatic pouring of the molten metal into the cold chamber.