Buy Something That Will Outlive You -- a Clawfoot Tub

By Kerry Knight

Cover via Amazon
There is a huge push today to find the magic pill that would enable us to live forever.  Books line the shelves of bookstores on how to prolong life 
or at least how to extend vibrant health.  There is “The Longevity Bible,” by Gary Small MD.  The “Healthy at 100:  Secrets of the World’s Longest-Lived People,” by John Robbins is another popular one.  One that has really caused controversy is “The China Study,” by T. Colin Campbell, PhD.  This one clearly suggests that diet and lifestyle changes can prevent and even reverse many chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.  Deep down, we know it probably doesn’t work, but we wish anyway.  We all long for permanency.

It is often said that we live in society that loves instant gratification. The fast food industry is based on this principle. As our technology has improved, companies have worked hard getting us use to disposable or renewable products. We started with Windows 1.0 and are now at windows 8.1.  Whether it's computers, furniture, clothing, you name it, few things you buy today last very long. It seems like it's all about upgrading to the next thing.

Nothing Seems To Last.

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DSC_1812 (Photo credit: Image_language)
We catch ourselves saying, “Nothing seems to last anymore.”  Usually, we’re talking about the shoddy workmanship on products we have purchased.  We imagine (and we’re often dead right) that years ago manufacturing was aimed at quality, not just quantity.  Things were made to last a lifetime.  However, today, we are lucky to get out of the store before something breaks.  We all long for something that is really worth what we paid.

We often have people that come into our showroom looking for a claw foot tub.  They ask if the tubs are acrylic.  Our answer is NO, and for a very good reason.  Claw foot tubs hold a lot of water.  The pure weight of the water will sometimes create a strain on the acrylic structure.  In time the tub actually becomes misshapen.  They are also subject to damage to the surface by being easily scratched.

A Claw Foot Tub Can Last 200 Years!

On the contrary, newly cast porcelain claw foot bathtubs are designed to last.  The exterior is cast iron.  Porcelain is actually sprayed over the cast iron at temperatures of over 2000 degrees.  The result is a bathtub that may last for 200 years.

Short Customer Testimonial

We often have customers come into our showroom and ask about our warranty.  Our clawfoot tubs will no doubt outlive the customer, so we joke about a 300 year warranty.  Of course, the porcelain surface of the tub could be damaged (if you hit it with hammer or droped a very heavy object on it).  Remember, porcelain is a glass finish.  But normal wear will allow the customer to enjoy the tub for a lifetime.

The bottom line is porcelain clad cast iron claw foot tubs are the most durable bath tubs that you can buy. There are lots of companies selling weaker acrylic or fiberglass tubs, but they won’t last anywhere near as long as a cast iron claw foot bath tub.

Short video showing the variety of Clawfoot tubs.

Claw Foot Tubs come in a Wide Variety of shapes and Colors

Claw foot bathtubs come in a variety of shapes including the Slipper Tub, Dual Ended tub, the Double Slippers, and the Traditional Roll Top claw foot tub. These claw foot tubs are not only appealing to the eye, they are built to last.  If you really want something that is truly beautiful, that adds value to your property, and can be a showpiece for any home while adding a sense of ageless permanence, then you need to look at modern claw foot bathtubs. Noting says elegance and beauty like a claw foot tub.

In this article, I have discussed how cast iron, porcelain claw foot bathtubs can outlast any of their acrylic or fiberglass counterparts.  I have discussed how our society has been conditioned to accept short lived products, even though we crave products that last a long time. People often say nothing lasts anymore, but cast iron claw foot tubs can last more than 100 years.

If you found this article useful, please share it with your friends and co-workers. If you have a comment related to this article, leave it in the comment section of this blog.  If you’d like to read more articles about claw foot tubs enter claw foot in the search box of this blog. You will find more than a dozen articles.  Have a question? Feel free to contact me at the number or email listed at the end of this article.  I’ll personally get back to you. It’s been my pleasure sharing this information with you. Thanks again for visiting with us.

Until next time. 


Alan and Kerry Knight are the owners of Tub King, Inc., and SeniorBathtub.com in Jacksonville, Florida. Together they have many years of experience in the antique and senior bathtub industries. Their companies not only provide superior products, they are also award winners, having received the “Best of Jacksonville Chamber Award” three years running. If you would like to contact them, call (800) 409-3375 or (800) 843-4231; or email them at alan@tubking.com.

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