POWER OF ATTORNEY


         Each of the undersigned directors of Crane Co., a Delaware corporation
(the "Corporation"), does hereby constitute and appoint Augustus I. duPont and
Thomas J. Ungerland, and each of them, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact
and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in
his name, place and stead in any and all capacities, to execute and deliver in
his name and on his behalf:

         (a) a Registration Statement (with all exhibits thereto) of the
    Corporation on Form S-3 or any other appropriate form proposed to be filed
    by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC")
    under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor thereto (the
    "Securities Act") for the purpose of registering under the Securities Act up
    to $250,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of unsecured debt obligations
    to be issued in one or more series (the "Debt Securities") of the
    Corporation consisting of debentures, notes and/or other evidences of
    indebtedness, including senior debt securities and subordinated debt
    securities;

         (b) any and all supplements and amendments (including, without
    limitation, post-effective amendments) to such Registration Statement; and

         (c) any and all other certificates, letters, reports, statements,
    applications and any other documents and instruments in connection with the
    registration of the Debt Securities which such attorneys-in-fact and agents,
    or any one of them, deem necessary, advisable or appropriate to enable the
    Corporation to comply with (i) the Securities Act, the Securities Exchange
    Act of 1934, as amended, and the other federal securities laws of the United
    States of America and the rules, regulations and requirements of the SEC in
    respect of any thereof; (ii) the securities or Blue Sky laws of any state or
    other governmental subdivision of the United States of America; and (iii)
    the securities or similar applicable laws of any foreign jurisdiction;

and each of the undersigned hereby grants unto such attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, or his substitute or substitutes, each and every act
and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises as fully
to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, and does hereby
ratify and confirm as his own acts and deeds all that such attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, or his substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof. Each one of such attorneys-in-fact and agents
shall have, and may exercise, all of the powers hereby conferred.



         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have hereunto subscribed this power
of attorney this 22nd day of February, 1999.


/s/ E. Thayer Bigelow, Jr.
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E. Thayer Bigelow, Jr.                      Richard S. Forte


/s/ Dorsey R. Gardner                       /s/ William E. Lipner
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Dorsey R. Gardner                           William E. Lipner


/s/ Dwight C. Minton                        /s/ C.J. Queenan, Jr.
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Dwight C. Minton                            C.J. Queenan, Jr.


/s/ James L. L. Tullis
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James L. L. Tullis                          Boris Yavitz