Spigot Spout Clawfoot Faucets: Add a Little Period Style with these Compact Vintage Clawfoot Tub Faucets

Today clawfoot tubs are known for their elaborate exposed plumbing and shower enclosure sets, however, very simple spigot style clawfoot faucets were much more common during the golden era of clawfoot tubs of the early 1900’s. Spigot clawfoot tub faucets are also called down spout clawfoot tub faucets as their small spout points down directly from the body of the faucet. Reproductions of spigot clawfoot tub faucets are still available today and they remain a popular choice for use with small clawfoot tubs. Basic models of spigot clawfoot faucets are usually the most affordable faucet option available for clawfoot tubs. Models of vintage tub faucets, however, are also available with shower diverters for handheld shower attachments or complete shower enclosure sets.

The simple design of spigot clawfoot faucets does have a few drawbacks. Unlike other styles of clawfoot tub faucets, the simple down spout of spigot style clawfoot faucets limits it to installations on tubs with tub wall faucet holes. Further, spigot clawfoot faucets are not code compliant in some areas of the country where plumbing codes require tub faucet spouts to be above the rim of the tub. They are also not available with modern thermostatic technologies like anti-scald and anti-siphon features which are also required by plumbing codes in some areas.

Shop 4 Classics is currently offering added savings on clawfoot faucet and plumbing orders with its FAUCET5 promotional coupon. FAUCET5 will apply a 5% instant discount to your total order of products from a single manufacturer when the order includes a clawfoot tub faucet or clawfoot tub shower, supply lines, and drain from the same manufacturer. The FAUCET5 coupon applies in addition to our already discounted prices and, as always, shipping is free for any order of $100 or more from a single manufacturer.

Toilet Paper Holders: An Indispensable Dispenser of Toilet Paper

Toilet paper holders are often an afterthought in bathroom design and remodelling projects. We know we need one but it seems so insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Today, however, the toilet paper holder gains some long deserved respect from the Shop 4 Classics Old House Blog.

To gain some appreciation for the toilet paper holder we should consider life prior to toilet paper. Ancient civilizations substituted organic materials such as grass, straw, or leaves in place of toilet paper. One could argue that these folks were simply early adapters of today's "green" movement. Ancient Romans preferred a salt water soaked sponge attached to the end of a stick to tidy up after conducting their business. In Mideastern cultures, a little water and the left hand served the purpose (perhaps inspiring the "fist bump" greeting popularized by Howie Mandel). Early Americans used corn cobs or pages from Sears Roebuck or Montgomery Ward catalogs. Today, unfortunately, you could use stock certificates from either of those two companies but I digress.

Paper specifically designed for use as toilet paper dates back to 14th Century China but it was not until 1857 that toilet paper was first packaged and sold in the US. Introduced by Joseph Gayette, this early toilet paper was made from hemp. Toilet paper is no longer made of hemp so ne'er-do-wells should not try smoking it. Like the toilet paper from 14th Century China, Mr. Gayette's hemp-infused toilet paper was sold in sheets. It was stored in a box near the toilet which means that the first toilet paper holder was a box. By the 1880's, toilet paper had advanced to the rolled and perforated paper that we are familiar with today. Simultaneously, toilet paper holders were designed to accommodate the new rolled tissue.

Toilet paper holders are usually installed about 26" above the finished floor. They should be placed within reach of a person seated on the toilet, approximately 6" in front of the toilet bowl. Freestanding pedestal toilet paper holders can be used in bathrooms where a wall mounted toilet paper holder might be inconvenient. One final installation note, surveys indicate that nearly 70% of Americans agree that toilet paper should be installed on the paper holder with paper coming over the top of the roll, not from underneath.

Today, the average American uses nearly 21,000 sheets of toilet paper each year. That statistic alone suggests that the toilet paper holder is a rather indispensable dispenser of toilet paper.

Shop 4 Classics offers a complete collection of bath accessories including toilet paper holders. Our bath accessory series allow you to match towel bars, robe hooks, soap dishes and toothbrush holders, toilet paper holders, and other bath accessories for a coordinated look. Pedestal toilet paper holders are also available in a variety of popular finishes. Appreciate the toilet paper holder and the next time you reach for toilet paper, thank the Chinese it isn't a corn cob!

Pewter Knobs and Pulls: Attractive and Affordable Cabinet Hardware

Shopping for unique cabinet hardware is a rewarding last step for those creating a fresh look for kitchen cabinets or completing a wood working furniture project. Finding distinctive knobs and pulls priced within one’s budget can add frustration to this otherwise enjoyable process. The local big-box hardware store may offer hundreds of mass-produced brass knobs and pulls but they all may begin to look strangely similar in spite of their varying shapes, sizes and finishes. Recently, pewter cabinet knobs and drawer pulls have become an increasingly popular alternative to brass cabinet hardware for a variety of reasons.

Pewter drawer pulls and knobs have a very distinctive look that contrasts particularly well against both dark and light painted or stained wood furniture and cabinets. Pewter cabinet hardware has either a polished or an antique finish. Polished pewter has a satin light gray appearance while antique pewter is a darker gray accentuated with even darker shades of gray within the recesses of the hardware’s design.

Pewter knobs and pulls can also take on unique shapes and cast with fine details due to the metal's low melting point. Pewter cabinet hardware, therefore, can not only take on the same shapes and designs as brass hardware but also can be created with more complex shapes and with details that can not be created economically with brass or bronze.

Last but certainly not least, pewter is a comparatively inexpensive metal and therefore pewter cabinet knobs and pulls are generally less expensive than similar brass or bronze cabinet hardware. In fact, only cast iron cabinet hardware is less expensive than pewter cabinet hardware and cast iron hardware is typically available only in more simple designs.

Visit Shop 4 Classics and check out our latest addition of pewter knob and pull cabinet hardware.

Sign of the Crab's Seneca Acrylic Soaker Bathtub: A Tub With Mork In Mind

Before Robin Williams was Robin Williams, he was Mork from Ork. Mork traveled to Earth in an egg-shaped spaceship. Mentioning Mork and his spacecraft might seem odd in a blog dedicated to antique reproduction hardware and plumbing for vintage homes but I reference them because Sign of the Crab recently introduced an acrylic soaker tub that reminds me of Mork's means of intergalactic travel.

Sign of the Crab's Seneca acrylic soaker bathtub is new for 2012. It is a freestanding contemporary tub constructed of durable lightweight acrylic. At just around 90 lbs., this egg-shaped acrylic bathtub is relatively easy to move, which makes it ideal for upper story bathrooms. Acrylic is naturally warmer to the touch than cast iron and water stays warmer longer because acrylic is a good thermal insulator. The Seneca double-walled acrylic bathtub stands 26-1/2" tall overall. It is 65" long and 30-3/4" wide with a 37" long by generous 19" wide seating area.

The Seneca acrylic soaker bathtub features an integrated waste and overflow (otherwise known as a tub drain). The drain trim is available in today's most popular finishes. The smooth curves of the tub go uninterrupted by faucet holes. It can be coupled with a wall mounted tub faucet or over-the-rim freestanding faucet to provide one heck of a sophisticated bath. Shazbot! The Seneca acrylic soaker bathtub is sure to be a winner in 2012.

Add Vintage Flair to Wall Coat Hook Racks and Coat Hook Trees with Black Cast Iron Coat Hooks

For the DIYer, creating a list of New Year’s resolutions often also results in them adding to their already long list of home projects. For example, resolving to stay more organized in the New Year can add any number of projects to their DIY project list. While the project may be as simple as adding a conveniently located garment hook in a closet, it may also be more involved like creating a unique wall mounted coat rack or freestanding coat hook tree from scratch.

Whether the project is simple or complex, cast iron hooks should be considered when developing the project’s shopping list. Cast iron coat hooks are an attractive and typically more affordable alternative to solid brass and bronze coat hooks. Cast iron hooks are also available in styles that range from simple single and double utility hooks to large and highly decorative Victorian coat and hat hooks. Most cast iron coat hooks on the market have vintage designs based upon original antique hooks and are, therefore, excellent choices for DIY projects that have a period theme. A negative of cast iron hooks is that, unlike solid brass hooks that are offered in a wide array of finish options, cast iron coat hooks are commonly only offered with either a durable black powder coat finish or offered with natural or antique iron finishes.

Just in time for the New Year, Shop 4 Classics has added the latest selection of cast iron hooks from Antique Revelry. Antique Revelry’s cast iron hooks have vintage designs and have durable black powder coat finishes. Below, is a sample of Antique Revelry’s current selection of cast iron hooks along with a few ideas on how each hook can be used to help maintain organization in the New Year:

With a simple design common to antique coat hooks found in classrooms throughout the country, Antique Revelry’s School House coat hook is sturdy and affordably priced making it an excellent choice for wall mounted multiple-hook coat racks located in mudrooms and changing rooms.

In contrast to the School House hook, Antique Revelry’s Grand Victorian cast iron coat and hat hook is an extra large hook featuring an elaborate antique design. The Grand Victorian coat and hat hook is designed for display as well as utility. This antique coat and hat hook will add eye-catching vintage flair whether it is mounted individually on front foyer walls or used in sets to complete a DIYer’s custom-made coat rack tree.

Antique Revelry’s Fleur de Lis coat rack hook is the perfect decorative cast iron hook for the DIYer wanting to create a prominently displayed wall mount coat rack. This black cast iron coat hook features an ornate twisted double hook attached to a sturdy base cast in the shape of the ever-popular Fleur de Lis symbol. Enhancing the look, the Fleur de Lis coat hook mounts with machine screws from behind the base rather than with wood screws from the front. Mounting from behind conceals screw heads from view resulting in a refined look.

For DIY projects that call for a ceiling hook, Antique Revelry offers a truly unique rotating triple ceiling hook. This cast iron ceiling hook is an ideal solution for applications requiring items to be stored overhead like utility and laundry rooms.

Shower Enclosure Support Braces: A Thrilling Look At Shower Curtain Ring & Rod Support

Brace yourselves! Today, we are discussing shower enclosure supports. It is a thrilling subject that is sure to have you on the edge of your seat.

A shower enclosure brace usually consists of two or three pieces:

1. The flange that attaches the brace to a wall or ceiling is called an escutcheon.


2. The brace bar is a straight bar that is usually offered in an assortment of lengths.


3. Depending on the shower enclosure, the brace may include a clamp to attach the brace to the shower curtain ring. Other shower enclosures assemble with the use of tees. Braces for these enclosures thread into tees at the ends of the enclosure and, therefore, no clamp is included with these braces.

The shower enclosure brace bar is designed to be cut with a tube cutter. The position of the shower curtain ring is adjusted by modifying the length of this bar. The brace bar is threaded at one end. Always cut from the end that is NOT threaded. Depending on the manufacturer, the bar may thread into the escutcheon or it may thread into the tee/clamp. The opposite end (unthreaded end) of the bar is secured with a set screw. Again, it will depend on the manufacturer whether the set screw is part of the escutcheon or the clamp.

Shower enclosure kits usually include two or three braces with the kit. Shower curtain rods may not include any additional support. If greater stability is desired, additional shower enclosure braces are available for most shower curtain rings and shower curtain rods.

The first thing that you should know before purchasing additional shower enclosure braces is that not all shower enclosure braces are the same. Shower curtain rings and rods are not governed by a universal standard that guarantees that all tubing is the same. If shower enclosures and rods aren't subject to industry standards, it then reasons that the braces required to support them also are not standardized.

Extra braces attach to the shower ring or rod with a clamp. Shower enclosures that assemble with tees include braces without clamps (as described above) but any additional braces for even these enclosures attach with a clamp. The clamp allows the brace to install almost anywhere along the length of the rod. Because the clamp attaches to the curtain rod and curtain rod tubing comes in different sizes, it is important to make certain the clamp fits the shower rod diameter. The most common tubing for shower curtain rods is 1" outside diameter. The tubing for clawfoot tub shower curtain rings is typically 7/8" outside diameter or 3/4" outside diameter.

While additional supports provide stability, it comes at a price. Their financial expense generally isn't significant but each additional brace clamped to the shower curtain rod creates another obstruction for the shower curtain. Shower curtain pins won't slide past a shower enclosure brace. If the enclosure only has two braces, the curtain can be hung split around one brace so that both ends of the curtain can then be pulled around the perimeter of the shower curtain ring to the opposite brace. If more than two braces are used, there may be sections of the curtain that do not move. Multiple shower curtains can also be used but this can result in gaps. Your goal should be to use as few shower enclosure braces as possible to prevent interference with the shower curtain yet still provide adequate support for the shower enclosure.

If all this talk about shower enclosure braces did not provide the adrenaline rush you anticipated, we still have not addressed irregular shower enclosure installations. Tall ceilings, vaulted ceilings, the absence of adjacent walls, skylights, windows, and other engineering predicaments can complicate the installation of shower enclosure braces. Many shower enclosure manufacturers offer adapters to solve shower enclosure brace installation problems. Angled ceiling adapters replace the shower enclosure brace's escutcheon to allow for vaulted ceilings. Couplers can be used to join two brace bars end-to-end to create a longer shower enclosure brace. Wall braces can be converted to ceiling braces (and vice versa) with the use of elbows. The thing to remember when solving shower enclosure brace installation problems is that there is no uniform code to ensure that every adapter will work with every shower enclosure brace. Check specifications and instructions carefully.

Shop 4 Classics offers shower enclosure braces and brace adapters for shower curtain rings and shower curtain rods from Sign of the Crab, Sunrise Specialty, Elizabethan Classics, and Cheviot Products. Visit Shop 4 Classics for our complete catalog of shower enclosures, shower enclosure braces, and shower enclosure brace adapters.

New Floor Mount Freestanding Tub Fillers and Showers by Sign of the Crab

As another the New Year approaches, it is clear that freestanding bathtubs are one of the hottest trends in bathroom design and distinctive floor mount tub filler faucets and shower enclosures are freestanding tubs’ crowning jewels. Freestanding bathtubs are nothing new as for years antique inspired clawfoot bathtubs and pedestal bathtubs have been a stylish alternative to common built-in bathtubs. Evolutions in freestanding bathtub design, however, are making this style of bathtub so much more popular. A wide array of truly unique modern adaptations of the freestanding bathtubs is now being offered alongside clawfoot and pedestal style freestanding bathtubs. New modern style floor mount tub filler faucets and floor mount shower enclosures are also being offered in addition to vintage style clawfoot faucets and shower enclosures.


In keeping with the times, Sign of the Crab’s 2012 product line includes a greatly expanded collection of floor mount freestanding tub filler faucets and shower enclosures. Their 2012 freestanding faucet and shower line-up includes both vintage and modern designs. Their vintage collection of floor mount tub fillers and floor mount shower enclosures feature traditional designs inspired by original antique clawfoot tub faucets and showers. Sign of the Crab's vintage-inspired faucets and showers have porcelain accented lever and cross faucet handles and are available in all of their faucet finish options including oil rubbed bronze. For modern and Art Deco themed baths, Sign of the Crab added the Deco line of floor mount tub filler faucets. Featuring more angular designs and Art Deco style metal faucet handles, Deco faucets and shower sets are offered in all finish options except oil rubbed bronze.

Since inception nearly forty years ago, Sign of the Crab has been committed to quality and reliability. Every Sign of the Crab faucet is tested under water with air at twice the household pressure to ensure that they are of the highest quality on the market. Quality was a key reason why Shop 4 Classics began offering Sign of the Crab’s faucets and fixtures almost ten years ago. Shop 4 Classics now proudly offers Sign of the Crab’s complete catalog of kitchen and bath fixtures and plumbing products.