Founded by Richard Teller Crane in 1855, it became one of the leading manufacturers of bathroom fixtures in the United States, until 1990, when that division was sold off.

The new company soon won contracts to supply pipe and steam-heating equipment in large public buildings such as the Cook County courthouse and the state prison at Joliet.

In 1890, when it had sales branches in Omaha, Kansas City, Los Angeles and Philadelphia, the company changed its name to Crane Co. By this time, Crane was supplying much of the pipe used for the large central heating systems in Chicago's new skyscrapers, and it was also selling the enameled cast-iron products that were soon found in bathrooms in residences across the country.

During the 1920s, when Crane expanded overseas, the company was the world's leading manufacturer of valves and fittings.

[4] The Court held "that the franchise and permit taxes both violated the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and directly burdened interstate commerce.

The meaning of this ruling is that States are not allowed to add burdens to corporations if it impacts interstate commerce.