A Short History of Clawfoot Tub
In the late 1800s, American Standard (still in existence today) produced the first clawfoot tub. It was made of heavy, sturdy cast iron, and covered in a hard enamel surface. The enamel surface was important because it was easier to clean. As the twentieth century progressed, the freestanding clawfoot tub fell out of fashion, replaced by one-piece units.Antique Clawfoot Tubs
Older clawfoot tubs are made of enameled cast-iron. Disadvantages of the cast-iron tubs is that the surface chips easily, the cast-iron can be cold in the winter, and the tubs are extremely heavy--requiring several hands to move and extra-strength joists under the floor area where the tub is to be located. Many cast-iron tubs can be effectively refinished. If you are in the market for an antique cast-iron clawfoot, one place to look is at architectural salvage yards.However, cast-iron tubs are not always antiques. Some manufacturers still make clawfoot tubs in the cast-iron variety. (Buy Direct - Elizabethan Classics - White with White Feet Traditional 54" Roll Top Clawfoot Tub)
New Acrylic Clawfoot Tubs
One alternative to some of the cast-iron clawfoot tub's failings is to purchase an acrylic clawfoot. These tubs look exactly like the real thing, except they work even better.Acrylic clawfoot tubs have the following advantages:
- Lighter, easier to move
- Scratches can be buffed out (to some extent)
- Feels warmer in the winter
- Has a slightly "softer" feel than cast-iron's metal surface
