By Kerry Knight
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| Photo credit: Lotus Carroll |
Customers often ask me, “How did you and your brother get into
this business?” It’s really kind of amusing, I answer.
As kids, Alan and I used to love playing in our
grandparents’ large cast-iron, porcelain tub. We’d gather up all our toys,
bubble bath soap and what not, and play to our hearts’ content. That is if we
didn’t get into an all out splash fight, much to our grandmother’s dismay. So,
as kids, we developed a real appreciation for claw foot tubs, and of course,
that followed us into this business today.
Like our story, it's not uncommon today to hear people refer
to “the good old days.” Many folks feel that if you go back far enough, a
variety of things seemed to be better: prices, quality, features, opportunities,
how we socialize with each other, etc.
We often hear our customers speaking in glowing terms about their
childhood days when they too baths in their grandparents’ claw foot tub.. How
perfect those tubs seemed in retrospect, they recount. They remember how large
they were, and, like Alan and I, how much fun they had sitting and playing in
the deep water. Many tell us that their
grandma or grandpa still has that old tub. Some have said that those tubs may
not ever wear out. Their line of thinking follows the thought that many things were
constructed better back then.
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| Photo credit: tubking.com |
Believe it or not, today’s new cast iron, porcelain bathtubs
are actually better made than they were a hundred years ago.
Most importantly, the quality of today’s tubs is much
better. With improved industrial techniques, advanced quality controls, and more
specialized materials used in the casting process, the tubs of today are far
better constructed than ever before.
Secondly, in the tubs of yesteryear, the holes were on the
inside of the tub, so the faucet protruded into the tub space, taking up
valuable room. Today’s faucet is located on the side rim of the tub, hanging
above the tub’s interior to allow bathers to utilize all the interior space,
from one end to the other.
Third, the new claw tubs offer more variety in shapes and
sizes. About 80% of the old tubs were 60″ long. Back then, that would accommodate
most people. Also, there was generally one design: the traditional roll rim,
with the faucet and drain on one end and the sloped side on the other. The legs were made of cast iron and would
have to be painted. Today, you can have a cast iron, porcelain tub in sizes
ranging from 48-75″ with the shapes of the traditional roll rim, or modern
shapes such as double-ended, slipper and the elegant double slipper.
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| Photo credit: tubking.com |
Installation techniques have also improved, ensuring a
problem-free tub that doesn’t leak or otherwise damage the bathroom.
Lastly, today’s tub legs can be chrome, polished nickel,
brushed nickel, brass, gold, painted, or even oil-rubbed bronze. If preferred,
customers can go for a model that sits on a handsome, yet sturdy pedestal.
You can't replace the memories you had in your grandparents’
tub. They are priceless. But if you're
really looking for a quality bathtub that will withstand the ravages of time,
look no further than today’s cast iron, porcelain claw foot tubs. Once you’ve
purchased one, you'll have something in your home that could easily last for
over a hundred years. You can create your own memories with your children and
grandchildren. And nothing is more
valuable than creating beautiful memories, for both you and your precious
family.
In this article, I discussed the variety of ways in which today’s
cast iron, porcelain claw foot tubs exceed the tubs we fondly remember from our
childhood. From design and construction, to choice of size, color, variety of
models; to the different types of legs you can select. Today’s cast iron, porcelain claw foot tubs
are built to last a lifetime … and then some.
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 find more
information on cast iron, porcelain claw foot tubs, enter “claw foot tubs” in
the search box on this blog. Have a question? Feel free to contact
me at the number or email listed at the end of this article and 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, receiving the “Best of Jacksonville Chamber Award”
three years running. If you’d like to contact them, call (800) 409-3375 or
(800) 843-4231; or send an email to alan@tubking.com.
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