Exhibit 5.1



April 20, 2009






Crane Co.
100 First Stamford Place
Stamford, Connecticut 06902

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     Reference  is made to the  Registration  Statement  on Form S-8 to be filed
contemporaneously  herewith  under the  Securities Act of 1933 by Crane Co. (the
"Registrant")  relating to 5,500,000  shares of common stock, par value $1.00
per share  ("Common  Stock"),  of the  Registrant to be issued from time to time
under the Crane Co. 2009 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan").

     The  undersigned  has examined the  originals,  certified  copies or copies
otherwise  identified to his  satisfaction  as being true copies of the Plan and
such other  documents as he has deemed  necessary or appropriate for purposes of
this opinion. Based on the foregoing, the undersigned is of the opinion that the
5,500,000  shares of Common  Sock to be issued  under the Plan,  when  issued
under the terms of the Plan, will be legally and validly issued,  fully paid and
non-assessable.

     The opinions expressed in this opinion letter are limited to the law of the
State of Delaware and federal law of the United States.  The foregoing  opinions
are  rendered  as of the  date  of  this  letter.  The  undersigned  assumes  no
obligation to update or  supplement  any of such opinions to reflect any changes
of law or fact that may occur.  This opinion letter is being provided  solely in
connection with the Registration  Statement and may not be relied upon by you or
any other person in any other connection or for any other purpose.

     The undersigned is the Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the
Registrant  and, as of April 20, 2009,  beneficially  owned 93,407 shares of the
Registrant's  Common Stock and held vested options to purchase 265,000 shares of
the Registrant's  Common Stock. The undersigned hereby consents to the filing of
this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

                                        Very truly yours,


                                        /s/ August I. duPont
                                        --------------------------
                                        Augustus I. duPont