The Tub King Blog - Tub Talk: June 2014

Today’s New Cast Iron/Porcelain Clawfoot Tubs Are BETTER Than the Originals!

By Kerry Knight

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.

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.

Photo credit: tubking.com

In addition to its physical design elements, today’s technology and our refinishing expertise allow buyers a wide variety of colors from which to choose. No longer do tubs simply have to be white. You can have your tub’s colors match your bathroom or, if you’re a sports fan, have it painted in your favorite team’s colors.

Our attention-to-detail, multi-step refinishing methods ensure you’ll have the best-looking colors that will last for years to come.

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.

Related Articles

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.

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.

Related articles

Finally, Something That Really Works for Seniors

By Kerry Knight

We live in a world that is hyped and full of misleading advertising. Trust is a commodity that is lacking for a good reason. Lying has become a national pastime for politicians, large corporations, financial institutions and big advertisers. Don’t get me wrong, there are lots of honest people, businesses, advertisers and even politicians out there. Nevertheless, more often than not, we are fed deceptions with gotcha’s in the fine print or hyperbole in advertising.

As a company, we do a lot of advertising and sometimes we get great feedback from our customers. We know that any advertising of any product is met with a degree of skepticism. Since we are all bombarded on a daily basis from TV, radio and the internet with advertising, we begin to think, “They’re just out for our money … and we only have so much to go around. “ Do any of the claims really live up to the hype?

Seniors, in particular, seem to be a target of bogus advertising. Why? Because some imagine that seniors are ill-informed or easily manipulated. How wrong they are! Of all consumer groups, none are as educated, savvy, aware, and informed as our seniors. They have something most others don’t … ! When you’ve been taken advantage of a few times over the years, you learn something. You learn to spend more time checking things out. You learn to spend your money wisely.

You’re not so easily fooled.

We recently delivered one of our senior walk-in bathtubs to a customer who lives in a retirement community. He really didn’t want the tub, but his wife wanted it for him. On the phone, he questioned everything. He did his research. Then finally, one day, he called. “I’m ready for my walk-in tub.” I asked, “Do you have any questions?” He said, “No, I’ve asked them all.”

After we delivered it and installed it, we received a call a few weeks later. He said he had started recommending our walk-in tubs to his friends in the community. He had actually invited them over to use the tub and test it.

No amount of radio, TV or internet advertising can do what he has done. Word of mouth from a satisfied customer is the best there is. He told them that at first he was skeptical. He wondered if it would really help his arthritis, back pain and joint discomfort. After using it for a few days he was totally sold. He also mentioned that he was no longer worried about falling in the bathtub. Prior to the purchase, he was slipping and taking spills about once a month. Since using his walk-in tub, he has not fallen -- once.

It was hard for him to admit to his wife that she was right all along, but he finally did. He’ll now tell you that this tub was the best purchase he's ever made. He had finally found something that works.

What to Look for in a Walk-In Tub

If you are considering the purchase of a walk-in bathtub, we recommend you do your due diligence. There are many companies ready to take advantage of seniors who don’t take the time to learn about a product and the company that’s sells it before they buy. We recommend that you compare features; Are they pre-plumbed? What is covered in the warranty and how long does it last? What kind of professional certifications does the tub have? Does the price include the delivery cost and installation fee?

A Testimonial From One of Our Satisfied Customers

Before you buy a walk-in bathtub you need to review a company’s reputation. Look at customer testimonials and talk to people who have purchased a walk-in tub. Ask how they were treated and how did the delivery and installation go. Most important, ask how they like their walk in tub.

Be wary of review websites. There are many fake walk-in tub review sites on the internet touting unbiased reviews. Most only recommend the tubs they sell. A good walk-in tub will have many certifications and a strong warranty. We are so sure of our walk-in tubs that we even provide a price match guarantee and we always provide free delivery in the lower 48 states.

In this article, I have discussed a product that works for seniors, the Walk-in Tub. I explained how seniors are often targeted with false or misleading advertising about walk-in tubs. I also provided readers a checklist that they can use to determine who is an honest vendor, and what walk-in tubs have the best features and value for their needs.

Short Walk-In Tub Buyers' Guide

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 receive a FREE Walk-In Tub Buyers’ Guide, click here. 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 would like to contact them, call (800) 409-3375 or (800) 843-4231; or email them at alan@tubking.com.

Related Articles

Time to Get a "Side" Job

Are you out of work or know of someone who can’t find a job? I keep hearing the same thing over and over from lots of people. Good jobs are few and far between. Something new that I am starting to see is people taking matters into their own hands. People are tired of the media saying that job growth is positive only to then see the numbers adjust down to negative growth a few months later.

Regardless of the spin some are placing on the job market, we still appear to be headed for more bad news. Many of those who were looking for work over the last six months to a year have given up. Many who were able to find employment had to take a cut in pay and appear to be “over-qualified” for what they are doing. And still others have had to find employment that is part-time, not full-time. As the unemployed labor pool grows restless, there appears to be no help coming from the government. So, what do we do?

Maybe it’s time we took matters into our own hands. Instead of blaming the current administration (and I’m sure there’s plenty of justification there) let’s look to ourselves. It’s time we stopped looking to others for help. We have it within ourselves to put our life back on track. If there is no job out there for which you are qualified, create your own business. Start something you can operate part-time or full-time, based upon your circumstances.

One such area would be returning to school, or better yet being trained for a new profession. There are many training schools around that can provide you with a new skill, and some that could be very profitable. One such area is in BATH AND KITCHEN REFINISHING.

This process involves going into a bathroom or kitchen and restoring fixtures that are worn out or outdated. For instance, you could put a new surface on a bathtub, giving it a bright shine and new durability for a fraction of the cost of replacing it. This is a win-win situation both for the homeowner and the technician. This new surface can also be applied to ceramic tile, counter-tops, sinks, appliances, and cabinets. You could literally transform a rundown house into something of beauty for very little money. Learning this trade can be accomplished in a weekend. Perfecting it will take practice in order to gain experience. But the first step is finding a Refinishing School that offers the training.

Testimonial on our refinishing process.

The equipment you will need typically costs under two thousand dollars. However, this can be recouped in a hurry. That would include a spray rig and coating material, a fume extractor, respirator, and other incidentals.

Refinishing a bathtub can be done in approximately two hours. The customary charge for this service is about $300. It would not take long to build this into a nice “side” business or something more permanent.

If you want to learn about bathtub and sink refinishing give us a call. We offer classes that teach anyone how to refinish bathtubs and sinks. The classes are hands on and show you how to get started. Here is a link to our contact page that talks about the class. For more details on the training visit us here at TubKing.com

So, instead of getting depressed over the lack of opportunities in the job market, think about creating your own business. It’s an opportunity that can put you back in control of your financial destiny. You will feel better about yourself, and with the profits you can make, your financial burdens can be lifted.

Video about our refinishing class.

In this article, I discussed how a person could take control of their own job market by starting a bathtub and sink refinishing business. Start-up costs are low and profit margins are strong. We offer a training class that shows a beginner what they need to get started in the bathtub refinishing business. Best of all, you won’t have to rely on someone else for a paycheck.

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 learn more about the bathtub refinishing business, visit us at TubKing.com. Have other questions? 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 would like to contact them, call (800) 409-3375 or (800) 843-4231; or email them at alan@tubking.com

Related articles