First, I would LOVE to see photos of those tubs. I bet they are amazing.

Second, I have to believe there is some way to repair it, even if the repair is a costly one. It would seem like a huge shame to have to toss out antique claw foot tubs in otherwise perfect condition.

I would contact a nearby historical preservation society and ask them for suggestions on contractors. I renovated the kitchen and bathrooms in a hundred year old Bethlehem PA home and had no idea who to hire since I live and work in Dallas. The Historical Society connected me with an incredible contractor that the historical Preservation Society used to renovate churches and other buildings from the mid 1700's. Due to their vast experience working on very old buildings they had great ideas, great connections with inspectors, and incredible expertise. They hired Mennonites to do the stone work since they were the only masons who still did it the same way it was done a hundred years ago. The project took 9 months and came out flawless. One phone call made my life so much easier.

Forgot to mention, we kept all the original bathroom fixtures claw foot and built in tubs without making additional holes in them even the faucets were reused. The original subway wall tiles and original marble herringbone floor tiles were all preserved.

Thank you for all the comments. Melinda, that is an excellent idea about visiting the historical society for a contractor. I only wish I had thought of that sooner. We have already selected our general contractor and he is not as familiar with historical homes as I would have liked. I think I will still get in touch with the historical society though to see if they have any resources or recommendations for a tub re-finisher person. I will also try and post pictures of the tubs once I have the chance. We are not currently living in the home!

I have seen plates made for that purpose; use silicone waterfproof sealer. You can also purchase a gooseneck faucet and attach it in the same place; the gooseneck should raise the faucet to the legal height. There is a place in Lake County CA called the :Elegant Bowl" which specializes in antique plumbing if you cannot find it elsewhere. Good luck; would love to see finished photos!

Wonderful news.

Would LOVE to see the finished products!

I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO RETROFIT OUR TUB... JUST LIKE THIS! (Your fixtures are in much better condition!). PLEASE submit an updated pic of what they did to complete the tub on the right!