The Tub King Blog - Tub Talk: Cast iron

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A Story About Bathtubs to “Whet” Your Appetite

By Alan Knight

On December 28, 1917, the popular journalist H. L. Mencken (who had previously covered the aftermath of the Great Fire of Jacksonville in 1901) published an article in the "New York Evening Mail" titled "A Neglected Anniversary." It described the curious history of the bathtub in America, particularly how people, initially believing that bathtubs posed a health risk, were slow to accept them until President Millard Fillmore popularized them by installing one in the White House in 1850.

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“The first bathtub in the United States was installed in Cincinnati, on December 20, 1842, by Adam Thompson. It was made of mahogany and lined with sheet lead. At a Christmas party, he exhibited and explained it and four guests later took a plunge. The next day the Cincinnati paper devoted many columns to the new invention and it gave rise to violent controversy.

“During the same year the Legislature of Virginia laid a tax of $30 a year on all bathtubs that might be set up. In Hartford, Providence, and Wilmington, special and very heavy water rates were laid on persons who had bathtubs. Boston in 1845 made bathing unlawful except on medical advice, but the ordinance was never enforced and in 1862 it was repealed.

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“President Millard Fillmore gave the bathtub recognition and respectability. While Vice President, he visited Cincinnati in 1850 on a stumping tour and inspected the original bathtub and used it. Experiencing no ill effects he became an ardent advocate, and on becoming President, he had a tub installed in the White House. The Secretary of War invited bids for the installation. This tub continued to be the one in use until the first Cleveland Administration.”

The controversy reached other cities, and in more than one place medical opposition was reflected in legislation. In 1843 the Philadelphia Common Council considered an ordinance prohibiting bathing between November 1 and March 15, and this ordinance failed of passage by but two votes.
Some papers designated it as an epicurean luxury, others called it undemocratic, as it lacked simplicity in its surroundings. Medical authorities attacked it as being dangerous to one's health.

Nothing in Mencken's history of the bathtub was true. It was all a joke. Mencken later wrote, "My motive was simply to have some harmless fun in war days.” Mencken said he didn't expect anyone to take his article seriously. However, it literally took several years to straighten out the hoax.

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So, what is the truth about bathtubs today? We have certainly come a long way. Today the tubs are more beautiful, comfortable, and functional than ever before. And contrary to the once-held erroneous belief, they are indeed good for one’s health and sense of well-being.

Luxury Tubs. The newly reproduced cast iron and porcelain footed tubs are extremely popular among those who are seeking to add the element of elegance to their bath. One of the more popular designs is the Slipper Tub. It has often been portrayed in movies and television as the tub of the stars. With its high-arching back and sexy lines, it defines wealth and opulence. The robust, rich porcelain interior seems to speak to infer the opulence of royalty. New styles that are patterned after those of yesteryear would include not only the different sizes of Slipper Tubs, but also the Dual-Ended, Pedestal, Double Slippers and Roll Top.

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When you add plumbing fixtures made of chrome, brushed nickel and oil-rubbed bronze to your cast iron/porcelain tubs, you can really make your luxury tub stand out. Matching the legs of the tubs with the same finish as the faucet, drain and water supply lines can really make the tub shine. Combined, all these cohesive design elements deliver the message of luxury and wealth.

Today, prices have never been better for those looking to purchase a luxury bathtub. Because of major production foundries in other countries, these porcelain tubs can be imported and sold at prices that anyone can afford. Alan Knight, president of Tub King, Inc., cautions, “Just make sure you don’t go for an acrylic reproduction of the old designs. We’ve found that over time, they don’t hold up to heavy use and they seem to lose their shape and finish very easily. The right choice would be the cast iron and porcelain original designs. These well-built tubs can potentially last for hundreds of years. Plus they look like a million dollars.”

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Functional Tubs. Many people have trouble taking a bath because of mobility constraints. They may still be young, but are suffering from an injury or an early debilitating disease like MS. Then you have the growing senior population, who may have challenges when getting into and out of a traditional bathtub; it’s a real safety task. The Walk-in tub was created to make bathing easier and safer for those in need of help. With the addition of hydrotherapy in the form of air and water jets, the new tub became an instant hit. Now, a person can access the tub through a low ingress/egress, water-tight door, sit down on a non-slip seat, and soak in warm water. Within arm’s reach is a convenient hand-held shower sprayer. They could also engage the air pump and create thousands of therapeutic bubbles to treat various medical conditions. The water pump provides a complete massage system, pulsing water against various parts of the body that need help. The inline heater allows them to remain in the tub as long as they want. The greatest part of this entire package is the freedom. Seniors can take a bath in privacy, without needing help from anyone.

There are quite a few companies out there selling the Walk-in Tub with a high price tag. Don’t get ripped off! Do your homework. Tub King, Inc., offers Walk-in Tubs at discounted prices and will even meet or beat any competitor’s price. Don’t pay $10,000 for a Walk-in Tub when you can purchase the same tub with the same features for a third of that.

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Today, numerous scientific studies show from a hygienic and therapeutic (and yes, psychological)
standpoint, frequent bathing is a healthy activity. In fact, there’s an entire academic and real-world field focusing on the well-documented benefits of hydrotherapy.

In this article, I talked about H.L. Mencken’s historic parody about the growing popularity of the bathtub in the U.S., saying it was President Fillmore who helped popularize it in America back in the 19th century. I then went on to describe some of the various historic models such as the elegant clawfoot tub, which is making a comeback today. I also described the benefits of the modern-day Walk-in Tub.

If you found this article interesting, please share and forward. If you’d like to leave a comment or question, please do so in the Comments section below.

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Have a question? Feel free to contact me at the number or email listed below and I’ll personally get back to you. Thanks for reading; it’s my pleasure to share this information with you. Here's wishing all you have a healthy, happy and properous New Year.

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Alan Knight is the owner of Tub King, Inc., and SeniorBathtub.com in Jacksonville, Florida. He has many years of experience in the antique and senior bathtub industries. His companies not only provide superior products, they are also award winners, receiving the “Best of Jacksonville Chamber Award” four years running. To contact Tub King directly, call (800) 409-3375, (800)843-4231 or email alan@tubking.com.

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

By Kerry Knight

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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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.

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Treasure Hunting for Bathtubs

When I think of a treasure hunt, I am reminded of the ancient artifacts, items covered in gold, precious items that people hold onto and pass on from generation to generation. In order for an item to fit this description, it has to have staying power. It must be durable, important and part of our everyday life.

Check out Claw foot tubs are back

Years ago, when we first started in the bathtub business, and before cast iron/porcelain tubs were being manufactured again, my brother and I were always looking for the old clawfoot tubs, which could be refinished and sold. We would visit wrecking companies, and plumbing supply houses to see if they had any of the old tubs that we could buy and restore. Sometimes we would see tubs sitting outside of homes, being used as flowerpots. We would stop and ask if the owners wanted to sell them.

For a long period of time, the clawfoot tub had virtually disappeared. No foundries in the U.S. were casting these tubs because everyone was going to fiberglass. So, the old style, claw-footed tubs, as beautiful as they were, disappeared. Those we could find were always in high demand.

I remember delivering several antique sinks to a customer out in the country who lived in a farmhouse. We had refinished these antique sinks for him, and as we off-loaded them into his living room, I noticed a huge cast iron bathtub sitting right in the middle of the floor. It was a dual ended tub with massive claw legs. It was 75 inches long and 35 inches wide. It was extremely rare ... and I wanted it.

I asked the customer what he was planning to do with it. He said he and his wife were going to bury it in the back yard to make a goldfish pond. I quickly said, "I'll pay you $300 for it." They were hesitant, so I sweetened the pot a little. "Okay, how about $300 plus the three sinks I brought you, no charge." The couple looked at each other. The wife said, "Dear, that will pay for all our tile work." The husband thought about it and said, "Okay we'll do it." Music to my ears!

We eventually sold that tub for over $4,000. How? The tub was very rare.

Today, tubs that size and shape are being recast again. We can provide customers with the same basic tub for under $2,000. Customers like it for reasons beyond price. Since it is newly cast (new porcelain), it does not need to be refinished. The legs are now plated with chrome and brushed nickel, instead of the old cast iron legs that rusted. New faucets and hardware are readily available for the new tubs in designs that were not even available a hundred years ago. In essence, you can now own a beautiful claw foot tub that will last another hundred years without having to spend months on the treasure hunt trail. You won’t have to spend many hours and a lot of money resorting it. You can just buy and have it professionally installed it with matching fixtures, ready to enjoy, admire and use.

There has never been a better time to purchase one of these beautiful porcelain/cast iron clawfoot bathtubs. You have so many design choices and the price is extremely low. It will definitely add to the value of your home, and the hours of personal enjoyment cannot be easily measured.

In this article, I told you some of our treasure hunt stories, where we searched for old claw foot tubs so we could restore and sell them. Today, anyone can own one of these beautifully functional tubs, no treasure hunt needed. In fact, there are more choices, sizes and color combinations now than ever before. On top of that, prices are very reasonable. It has never been a better time to own a beautiful claw foot tub.

See our double slipper tub.

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 will personally get back to you. It has 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 or kerry@tubking.com.

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