Hey, I saw on your blog a bit of info on American Standard clawfoot tubs. My tub was made by Wolff Manufacturing. Do you know the years that company made tubs? Ours is a typical clawfoot tub. We can't find a date on it - any guess on the age? We figure the '20s.
According to the Chicago Historical Society, Ludwig Wolff (1836 - 1911) came to Chicago in 1854 and by 1876 he had a large plumbing supply factory under the name L. Wolff Manufacturing Co. Wolff built a large new Chicago plant in 1887. This facility soon employed about 1,000 men and produced $1.5 million worth of goods a year. As indoor plumbing became more common by the late nineteenth century, Wolff began producing a wider array of plumbing items for homes, hospitals, businesses, and schools. By 1910, the company had about 3,500 workers at two Chicago-area plants and sales and service operations in about 10 other cities. Wolff's operations shrank during the Great Depression and the company stopped operating shortly after World War II.
The Chicago Historical Society also has a 1912 Wolff Plumbing Catalog online.
One of their clawfoot tubs is shown on pages 10 and 11 of the catalog. The only other useful reference I found for Wolff Mfg. was from the Victorian Crapper site.
I am sorry I could not get more information about the company or the approximate date for your tub. If I had to guess, I would say it was built between 1910 and 1939. I know it is not a very tight date range but it is the best I can do for now. Does anyone else have any more information about the Wolff company?
20 April 2006 UPDATE:
Evan D. wrote to tell us that he found a Wolff tub "without a faucet and some rough holes cut for a replacement. So I cobbled my own freestanding unit. The tub itself was sandblasted (where we found the casting date), reglazed, outside painted, wood rim repaired and refinished, feet brass plated to match drain system."
Here is the stunning result:
Here is a detail shot of the Wolff name on the overflow cover:
Thanks for the info! Hey, it's more than I had before! :)
ReplyDeleteJust noticed this quote at the bottom of the Victorian Crapper page: "Immediately following World War I, L Wolff's catalog of products changed. Out were cast iron baths and embossed toilets, in were hot water heaters and glass shower doors that are very similar to modern products."
ReplyDeleteWonder if that means they stopped making cast iron tubs altogether after World War I? If so, that narrows down the date a bit more.
Kristin,
ReplyDeleteGood catch - Based on that tidbit of information, you could guess that the manufacture date of your tub was before 1918.
We have a 1893 tub by L. Wolff Mfg. with a wide mohoghany rim, the company name and city cast in the brass overflow cover, and a trick brass drain system that is topped by a brass cap through the mahoghany lip. I might be able to post a picture.
ReplyDeletePlease send us your tub photo. Perhaps we can post it on the blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Allan
just purchased my fish tank,$25.
ReplyDeleteon the bottom is 8-14-1900, 16, l.wolff mfg co. pat june 18 - 85, f6 . has original bolts in feet, drain hole, and rough over flow hole.48"bot/72top. worth anything before the fish go in ?
fattystat2@verizon.net
Our general price guide is located here:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.vintagetub.com/asp/antique_bath_information.asp#buy
Wolff tubs are rarer than most so that helps increase their value a bit. How is the porcelain? Is it clean, smooth and not chipped? Exterior in good shape? If so, you have a nice tub that might be worth taking some pictures of and offering for sale to the local salvage yards.
Allan
Greetings,
ReplyDeleteI'm a sanitary pottery collector living in Lancaster, PA. I have an cast iron 1898 Wolff Neptuna 5' center fill (Roman style) tub. The tub has a very large under rolled rim and lion's paw feet. I found it in Cincinatti, OH. The Neptuna is missing the original hardware. Consequently, I am working with a metal artist to create the appropriate parts. The story that came with the tub was that is was used in the Presidential Suite of the Alms Hotel. I have been unable to confirm this. The tub is one of many pieces in my collection. I'm planning a master bathroom in my turn-of-the-century carriage house and the tub will be a centerpiece with a J L Mott bidet, John Douglas console sink, John Douglas royal embossed toilet, and a pedistal urinal with fluted base. I also collect plumbing catalogs of the major manufacturers prior to the Great Depression. Acoustikat
We have an L. Wolff 67" tub, gold lion's paw feet, nameplate on th overflow. Our house was built in 1902. We're remodeling the (kids')bathroom soon and I'm looking for any ideas on how to integrate a shower into the tub without the extension kit and curtain (water bound to spill over with kids). Alteratively, thoughts on what it might be worth should we decide to sell the tub?
ReplyDeleteBrian Saltzman, Montclair, NJ
briansaltzman2000@yahoo.com
hi,i have a date on the bottom of my l wollf tube its 7-27-95 its in good shape i repainted and brought the brass pipes back to original brass it was painted over.i got from a older lady that i snowblow here drive way and she just gave it to me it is a great thing to have a 113 year old clawfoot tube to wash in.
ReplyDeletewe just repainted the outside of our L. Wolff clawfoot tub. It has a date stamp on the bottom of 2-12-1914. The porcelain is in excellent condition and the tub had never been painted on one side! Hard to believe we found in this condition.
ReplyDeletei'm rather late with this comment, but we have a WOLFF Manufacturing toilet in an upstairs bathroom - - our home was built in 1891, I have no idea if the toilet is orignal or not, but I'm pretty sure it's been there at least 75 years now
ReplyDeleteI was a given an old cast iron claw foot bath tub, but am curious as to how to find the manufacturer or date stamp on it. It's a very small tub, someone who saw it called it an apartment size tub. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
ReplyDeleteI found a little tiny 6" long porcelain over iron tub at the fleamarket today it says L. Wolf Mfg. co. on the botom...anyone know anything about this little tub???
ReplyDeleteThe manufacturer & date may be stamped on the bottom, so flip it over & watch your toea! I'm refinishing a small Wolff tub (48" or so) and it is as heavy as the 5 footers. (When you make your living with old tubs these things are interesting).
ReplyDeletethis web site is very helpful, I have a 1914clawfoot tub made in May 14,1914 and the chicago historical society is vey helpful also.
ReplyDeleteI have a very old Wolff Mfg. toilet said to be the first indoor one to be installed in Madison, Wisconsin. It also has the word 'CELERITAS' printed on it. It is a ver decorative unit with raised patterns embossed in a raised decoration on the sides. I am interested in the best way to restore, or clean the unit.
ReplyDeleteOutstanding bath tub. Anyway Shower doors are one of the most stylish accessories that you can add to a bathroom in order to increase privacy.
ReplyDeleteJust stripped a 5 ft clawfoot tub in a salt lake city house built in 1918. The rectangular stamp under the bottom front reads l. Wolff mfg co june 19-98. I assume it was produced in 1898. Ill post some pics when im done refinishing.
ReplyDeleteHey, speaking of L wolff manufacturing I went
ReplyDeleteTo an auction about 15 years ago and bought an amazing sprinkler. It's tall about four feet , has two sets of arms
That spray about ten feet in diameter in opposite directions
It's an amazing piece. It's cast iron virde Gris and the arms
Are brass. The date on the brass says Feb 4th 1979 l. Wolff manufactioning. Didn't even know. They
Made sprinklers then. It's cool-- tara
We have a 67" L.Wolff claw foot tub with date of 4-15-1916. We have had it refinished and the feet have been redone with oil rubbed bronze over copper. It's beautiful. Researching to find value. Any ideas?
ReplyDeleteHey, nice site you have here! Keep up the excellent work!Keep up the good work.I was a given an old cast iron claw foot bath tub, but am curious as to how to find the manufacturer or date stamp on it.
ReplyDeletePlumber Birmingham, Al