EXHIBIT 5.1

                               September 22, 2003

Crane Co.
100 First Stamford Place
Stamford, Connecticut 06902

Dear Sirs:

         As Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Crane Co., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), I have examined and am familiar with the
Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws of the Company, each as amended to
date. I am also familiar with the corporate proceedings taken by the Board of
Directors of the Company to authorize the filing of the Registration Statement
on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") being filed by the Company today with
the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to $300,000,000 aggregate initial
offering price of its debt securities (the "Debt Securities"). In connection
with the foregoing, I have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise
identified to my satisfaction, of such other public and corporate documents,
certificates, instruments and corporate records, and such questions of law, as I
have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purpose of rendering this opinion.

         Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications and
limitations stated herein, I am of the opinion that, when the Debt Securities
have been duly authorized by appropriate corporate action and executed,
authenticated, issued and delivered against payment therefor as provided for in
the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement and
otherwise in accordance with the provisions of the indenture under which such
Debt Securities will be issued, such Debt Securities will be valid and legally
binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with their terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may
be limited by bankruptcy, moratorium, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws
relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and except as enforcement
thereof is subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether
enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, I hereby consent to
the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement referred
to above, including any amendments thereto, and further consent to the reference
to my name under the caption "Legal Matters" in the prospectus that is a part of
the Registration Statement.

                                        Very truly yours,


                                        /s/ Augustus I. duPont
                                        -----------------------------------
                                        Augustus I. duPont
                                        Vice President, General Counsel and
                                              Secretary