<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, 1997;


         NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned in his capacity as a director of the
Company hereby appoints John H. Shuey and Douglas D. Watts, 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, 1997, (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
17th day of October, 1997.





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

                                       55

<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, 1997;


         NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned in his capacity as a director of the
Company hereby appoints John H. Shuey and Douglas D. Watts, 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, 1997, (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
17th day of October, 1997.





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


                                       56

<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, 1997;


         NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned in his capacity as a director of the
Company hereby appoints John H. Shuey and Douglas D. Watts, 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, 1997, (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
17th day of October, 1997.





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

                                       57

<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, 1997;


         NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned in his capacity as a director of the
Company hereby appoints John H. Shuey and Douglas D. Watts, 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, 1997, (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
17th day of October, 1997.





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

                                       58

<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, 1997;


         NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned in his capacity as a director of the
Company hereby appoints John H. Shuey and Douglas D. Watts, 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, 1997, (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
17th day of October, 1997.





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



                                       59


<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, 1997;


         NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned in his capacity as a director of the
Company hereby appoints John H. Shuey and Douglas D. Watts, 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, 1997, (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
17th day of October, 1997.





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


                                       60

<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, 1997;


         NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned in his capacity as a director of the
Company hereby appoints John H. Shuey and Douglas D. Watts, 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, 1997, (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
17th day of October, 1997.





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


                                       61

<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, 1997;


         NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned in his capacity as a director of the
Company hereby appoints John H. Shuey and Douglas D. Watts, 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, 1997, (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
17th day of October, 1997.





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



                                       62