How To Identify Your Crane Faucet/Fixture

As with many manufacturers, Crane made many changes over the years, but there are two significant periods of manufacturing, pre WW2 and post WW2.

The easiest way to tell is the date. Most Crane sinks have the date of manufacture cast into or embossed into the fixture. Usually there is a Star shaped logo printed on the fixture that will also mention the Model of the sink. The model name can be extremely helpful!

Once you’ve determined the date of manufacture, look at the appropriate section to find the part you need. We’ve not been able to find any Crane sinks that were manufactured between 1942-1946, so we consider that to be the War years. Anything before 1942 is prewar, anything after 1947 is postwar.

Another easy way to tell the vintage of your Crane valve is this. Prewar valves have cross handles like the picture on the left. Postwar valves have “canopy” handles like the ones pictured on the right.

One of the joys of deciphering your Crane sink’s vintage is the fact that Crane used model names for many years. Many model names such as Drexel, Diana, Oxford, and others span both the prewar and postwar years. This is where the handle design will come into play.

Prewar Crane Valves

Prewar Crane valves came in many shapes and styles of trims, but all of the stems used were of a compression type. This means they all have good old rubber washers and seats inside the valves that actually do the work.

Prewar Crane Widespread Lavatory Valves

There are three common versions of prewar widespread valves and they all take different stems. An easy way to tell which one you have is to measure the length of your stem.

If you have the valve body pictured at right, with either metal or porcelain handles and escutcheons, and your sink is a Elegia, Nova, Ovatus, Corwith, or others that have a stem that is 5 3/4” long, your valve takes our #86-101HC or our 86-121HC Crane stem.

If you have the valve body pictured at left, and your sink is a Norwich, Corwith, or others that have a stem length of 4 1/2” you need our Crane stem # 86-041HC.

There is a Pre WW2-Crane Drexel or Compeer sink that uses a very similar trim, but the valve body will look different. This valve body uses rubber washers that seal the faucet to the sink. They are always mounted on a 45 degree slant. Two different stems were used, either the 86-041HC or the 86-211HC. If your escutcheon is held on by an escutcheon nut like the picture at left, you’ll need the 86-041HC stem. If the escutcheon screws directly onto the stem, you’ll need the 86-211HC stem.

Crane 6” Centerset Lavatory valves
These valves were used on Sterling and occasionally Norwich sinks. They can be identified by the unusual 6” dimension from handle screw to handle screw. Early versions used a square ended stem and can be special ordered. The later versions have a 12 point spline and use our Crane stem # 86-071 and 86-072 stems. The 071 is for the hot side and the 072 is for the cold side.

We do have a limited supply of original prewar valve bodies available if yours is beyond help. Call for details! (800) 255-4426

Postwar Crane Valves

After WW2 ended, Crane again began manufacturing valves and sinks. They reworked their entire line to use only one stem design. They called it the Dial-ese, and it was used in practically all Crane valves made after 1948 until Crane was sold in the early 1970’s . There are several different trims, but all use the same stem. There are some differences in sink design, and we’ll review them below.

Crane Integral spout Dial-ese Lavatory.
The postwar Crane Drexel and Marcia sinks are of an integral spout design. Both take the Dial-ese stem. The sink pictured at right is a Marcia version, the Drexel is subtly different, but both have the faucets mounted on a 45 degree slant and takes our #86-600 flange, 15-VBS sealing washer, and 79-266CK handles. Quite a few other parts are available, scroll down to the Drexel sink pictured below and click on it to see list of all available parts.

Crane Metal spout Dial-ese Lavatory
Many Crane postwar sinks used this design, they include Diana, Elayne, Westland, Countess, Norwich, and others. They all still take the Dial-ese stem. Replacement parts are as follows; handles are #79-266CK, trim rings are 86-650, and replacement locknuts are 86-550. The pictured sink is a Diana, this design is used for both free-standing, and counter-top mount sinks.

Crane Criterion Widespread Lavatory
During the late 1950’s, Crane updated their line with the new Criterion valve set, it featured trendy clear Lucite handles, and a brushed chrome finish. It still used the Dial-ese stem and some parts are still available. One can still get the Lucite handle ring, #20-24463, and the trim ring, #86-650. If the handle is stripped, you can replace the entire handle with our #80-1123K.

Common Crane Lavatory Sink Index

Crane “Beverly”

Circa 1955 to 1970. Same faucet as the Crane Oxford. Unique drain assembly. Click on photo to see available parts.
Crane “Cornate”

1948 to 1970. Corner wall hung sink. Uses same faucet as Oxford. Drain assembly is unique. Click on photo to see list of available parts.
Crane ” Coronet”

1937-1942 Widespread integral spout, always mounted on a metal cabinet. Click on photo to see available parts, photo courtesy of Ripley Auctions.
Crane “Corwith”

Circa 1930 to 1942 Multiple varieties of configurations, including widespread, 4″ center, separate hot-cold taps, Multiple stem varieties, some trim parts available. Click on photo to see available parts.Crane “Corwith-Compeer”

1936-1941, VERY similar to the Coronet model, but usually a Console sink. Click on photo for list of available parts.
Crane “Criterion”

1948 to 1970. Dial-ese stems only. Top of the line in its day. Most parts available, exception would be the spout. Could be tile-in, countertop, console, or cabinet mount. Click on photo for a list of available parts.
Crane “Diana”

Late 1930’s to 1970. Two different periods of valve/trim design with WW2 being the cutoff between the two. Click on Photo to see available parts for both varieties.
Crane ” Drexel”

1938 to 1970. Two different periods of valve/trim design with WW2 being the cutoff between the two. Click on photo to see a list of available parts for both varieties.
Crane ” Elayne”

1948 to 1970. Countertop mount version of the post WW2 Diana. Tile-in or Hudee ring. Click on photo to see list of available parts.
Crane “Elegia ”

Ballpark dates of manufacture from around 1920 until 1938. Click on the drawing to see a list of available parts.
Crane “Idalia”

1920 to early 1930’s. Pegleg, multiple faucet designs. Limited parts availability. Photo courtesy Period Bath. Click on photo for an available parts list.
Crane “Marcia”

1948 to 1970. Countertop mount, either tile-in or Hudee ring version of the Drexel. Click on photo to see available parts.
Crane “Neuday”

Mid ‘30’s to mid-’60’s. Cast iron sink. Two different periods of valve
design with cutoff being WW2. Unique drain assembly. Click on photo to view available parts.
Crane ” Neuvogue”

1930’s. Top of the line in its day. Distinguished by handles going into side through porcelain, very little metal trim visible. Only rebuild kit and drain available, click on photo for list of parts.
Crane “Norwich”

1930’s to 1970. Could be a wall-hung, pegleg, or pedestal version. Came in 4″ center, 8″ center, single hole drilling, or bare. Wide variety of faucets found on this sink. Click on photo for a list of possibilities.
Crane “Nova”

Late teens up to the early 1930’s. Most often found as a pedestal sink, but also can be a Console sink or a wall mount. Can be either a metal spout or an integral spout sink.
Crane “Ovatus”

Late teens up to the early 1930’s. Metal spout most common. Click on photo for list of available parts.
Crane “Oxford”

1936 to 1970. China wall hung sink, 4″ faucets mounted on a 45 degree slant. Two different versions with WW2 being the dividing point. Some parts available for Pre-WW2 version, most parts available for postwar version.
Crane “Sterling”

Mid 1930’s to 1942. Pegleg. Both 4″ center and “oddball” 6″ center faucets can be found on this sink. Click on photo to see available parts.
Crane “Vernon”

1920 up to the early 1930’s, pegleg, usually single basin taps. VERY limited parts availability.
Crane “Westland”

1948 to 1970. Countertop mount. Click on photo to see available parts.
Other, less common sinks made by Crane do exist. If you do not see your sink in the above photo gallery, e-mail us a photo of it, and we should be able to help with parts for it.

Crane Kitchen Sink Index

Crane “All American”

1948 – 1970. Countertop mount, faucets on 45-degree slant, spout on flat top above slant. Faucet can be replaced with our 54-926AX low rise spout widespread faucet.
Crane “Allianceware”

1948 – 1970. 8″ center deck mount. Modern widespread kitchen faucets will fit.
Crane “Crestmont”

Late ’50’s to 1970 8″ centers, faucet replaceable by modern widespread.
Crane “Homemaker”

1948 to 1970. 8″ center deck mount. Modern widespread kitchen faucets will fit.
Crane “Kitchen Pride ”

Mid 1930’s up to 1970. Early (pre-WW2) versions had the entire faucet mounted on a 45-degree slant. Faucet replaceable with our 24-786C, Original often restorable. Do not throw it away! Later versions have handles on 45 and spout on top of sink, faucet can be replaced with our 54-926AX Low rise spout widespread.
Crane “Kitchen Queen”

Mid ’30’s up to 1970. Same options as Kitchen Pride.
Crane “Sunnyday”

Mid ’30’s to 1970. Same options as Kitchen Pride with the exception of the post WW2 plastic plate version. This sink is distinguished by very large hole where faucet would mount. Over time, the plastic will crack, we do have replacement plates, but the faucets are unique in their design. Do not throw old faucet away!