<PAGE>   1
                                  Exhibit 24.1

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                -----------------

         WHEREAS, Amcast Industrial Corporation (the "Company") intends to file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission its Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended August 31, 1996;

         NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned in his capacity as a director of the
Company hereby appoints John H. Shuey, Douglas D. Watts, and William L. Bown and
each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agent, with full power
of substitution and resubstitution, to execute in his name, place, and stead,
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 1996,
(including an amendment to such report) and any and all other instruments
necessary or incidental in connection therewith, and to file the same with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Said attorneys shall have full power and
authority to do and perform in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, in the
aforesaid capacity, every act whatsoever necessary or desirable to be done, as
fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in
person. The undersigned hereby ratifies and approves the acts of said attorneys.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument this
5th day of November, 1996.




                                     /s/ James K. Baker
                                    ------------------- 
                                    James K. Baker



                                      199
<PAGE>   2






                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                -----------------

         WHEREAS, Amcast Industrial Corporation (the "Company") intends to file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission its Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended August 31, 1996;

         NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned in his capacity as a director of the
Company hereby appoints John H. Shuey, Douglas D. Watts, and William L. Bown and
each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agent, with full power
of substitution and resubstitution, to execute in his name, place, and stead,
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 1996,
(including an amendment to such report) and any and all other instruments
necessary or incidental in connection therewith, and to file the same with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Said attorneys shall have full power and
authority to do and perform in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, in the
aforesaid capacity, every act whatsoever necessary or desirable to be done, as
fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in
person. The undersigned hereby ratifies and approves the acts of said attorneys.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument this
5th day of November, 1996.




                                     /s/ Walter E. Blankley
                                    ----------------------- 
                                    Walter E. Blankley


                                      200
<PAGE>   3






                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                -----------------

         WHEREAS, Amcast Industrial Corporation (the "Company") intends to file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission its Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended August 31, 1996;

         NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned in his capacity as a director of the
Company hereby appoints John H. Shuey, Douglas D. Watts, and William L. Bown and
each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agent, with full power
of substitution and resubstitution, to execute in his name, place, and stead,
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 1996,
(including an amendment to such report) and any and all other instruments
necessary or incidental in connection therewith, and to file the same with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Said attorneys shall have full power and
authority to do and perform in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, in the
aforesaid capacity, every act whatsoever necessary or desirable to be done, as
fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in
person. The undersigned hereby ratifies and approves the acts of said attorneys.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument this
5th day of November, 1996.




                                     /s/ Peter H. Forster
                                    ---------------------
                                    Peter H. Forster


                                      201
<PAGE>   4






                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                -----------------

         WHEREAS, Amcast Industrial Corporation (the "Company") intends to file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission its Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended August 31, 1996;

         NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned in his capacity as a director of the
Company hereby appoints John H. Shuey, Douglas D. Watts, and William L. Bown and
each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agent, with full power
of substitution and resubstitution, to execute in his name, place, and stead,
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 1996,
(including an amendment to such report) and any and all other instruments
necessary or incidental in connection therewith, and to file the same with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Said attorneys shall have full power and
authority to do and perform in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, in the
aforesaid capacity, every act whatsoever necessary or desirable to be done, as
fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in
person. The undersigned hereby ratifies and approves the acts of said attorneys.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument this
5th day of November, 1996.




                                     /s/ Ivan W. Gorr
                                    ----------------- 
                                    Ivan W. Gorr


                                      202
<PAGE>   5






                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                -----------------

         WHEREAS, Amcast Industrial Corporation (the "Company") intends to file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission its Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended August 31, 1996;

         NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned in his capacity as a director of the
Company hereby appoints John H. Shuey, Douglas D. Watts, and William L. Bown and
each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agent, with full power
of substitution and resubstitution, to execute in his name, place, and stead,
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 1996,
(including an amendment to such report) and any and all other instruments
necessary or incidental in connection therewith, and to file the same with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Said attorneys shall have full power and
authority to do and perform in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, in the
aforesaid capacity, every act whatsoever necessary or desirable to be done, as
fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in
person. The undersigned hereby ratifies and approves the acts of said attorneys.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument this
5th day of November, 1996.




                                     /s/ Leo W. Ladehoff
                                    -------------------- 
                                    Leo W. Ladehoff


                                      203
<PAGE>   6






                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                -----------------

         WHEREAS, Amcast Industrial Corporation (the "Company") intends to file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission its Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended August 31, 1996;

         NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned in his capacity as a director of the
Company hereby appoints John H. Shuey, Douglas D. Watts, and William L. Bown and
each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agent, with full power
of substitution and resubstitution, to execute in his name, place, and stead,
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 1996,
(including an amendment to such report) and any and all other instruments
necessary or incidental in connection therewith, and to file the same with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Said attorneys shall have full power and
authority to do and perform in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, in the
aforesaid capacity, every act whatsoever necessary or desirable to be done, as
fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in
person. The undersigned hereby ratifies and approves the acts of said attorneys.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument this
5th day of November, 1996.




                                     /s/ Earl T. O'Loughlin
                                    -----------------------
                                    Earl T. O'Loughlin


                                      204
<PAGE>   7






                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                -----------------

         WHEREAS, Amcast Industrial Corporation (the "Company") intends to file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission its Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended August 31, 1996;

         NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned in his capacity as a director of the
Company hereby appoints John H. Shuey, Douglas D. Watts, and William L. Bown and
each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agent, with full power
of substitution and resubstitution, to execute in his name, place, and stead,
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 1996,
(including an amendment to such report) and any and all other instruments
necessary or incidental in connection therewith, and to file the same with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Said attorneys shall have full power and
authority to do and perform in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, in the
aforesaid capacity, every act whatsoever necessary or desirable to be done, as
fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in
person. The undersigned hereby ratifies and approves the acts of said attorneys.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument this
5th day of November, 1996.




                                     /s/ William G. Roth
                                    --------------------
                                    William G. Roth


                                      205
<PAGE>   8






                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                -----------------

         WHEREAS, Amcast Industrial Corporation (the "Company") intends to file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission its Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended August 31, 1996;

         NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned in his capacity as a director of the
Company hereby appoints John H. Shuey, Douglas D. Watts, and William L. Bown and
each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agent, with full power
of substitution and resubstitution, to execute in his name, place, and stead,
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 1996,
(including an amendment to such report) and any and all other instruments
necessary or incidental in connection therewith, and to file the same with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Said attorneys shall have full power and
authority to do and perform in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, in the
aforesaid capacity, every act whatsoever necessary or desirable to be done, as
fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in
person. The undersigned hereby ratifies and approves the acts of said attorneys.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument this
5th day of November, 1996.




                                     /s/ R. William Van Sant
                                    ------------------------ 
                                    R. William Van Sant

                                      206