Since the bathtub is 100 years old, don't you think it's time to get a new one?

I used a hand held wet saw, and a couple of diamond blades, and cut mine in about 8 pieces. Places where it didn't cut, cover with an old blanket / towels and use a sledge hammer.

Wet saw

Should be able to be moved, if it will fit through the door. Just hire some competent movers, and there should not be any problems.

Are you talking about the inside or the outside of the tub?

Yup. I would get it out of there and start with new. Hammer it to bits and get it out. And this is coming from someone who loves all things old. We had ours reglazed, but could do it easily b/c we were restoring the whole house down to the studs. They came in and sandblasted it and painted it while there was nothing else in the house. Then it had months to cure before anyone used it. These were ideal conditions, but I don't think I would have done it otherwise.

@sophie, thanks I was not sure what people typically do to refinish, if they just sand and paint over or if they use porcelain

@writersblock, the outside of the tub, the inside is pristine white porcelain so one of reasons I wanted to keep it. I need a standing tub anyhow unless I reno the rest of the bath, and the acrylic ones seem untrustworthy

@daisychain01 wow months to cure? Did you glaze both inside and out?

kathryn, we did both inside and out, but if you just have to the outside, I would consider keeping it. Have an expert come in a quote you a price. I didn't realize there were people who did only that sort of thing until our contractor found someone. What seems impossible to you, might be easy for them. Worth it to get an expert's opinion.

For the outside, I would also keep it, especially if it has kind of a bumpy feel to the metal. Those tubs were always intended to be painted.

Inside would be a lot more doubtful, since Sophie is totally correct that nobody reporcelains cast iron now, not since the EPA rules changed a few years back.

CustomCeramicCoating in IL used to actually reporcelain, but I also heard something about that being on hold because of EPA regs.

To the OP, since it is just the outside I would definitely keep it! Love her or hate her, Nicole Curtis did the outside of a couple of clawfoots using spray paint, and if prepped properly, it's not a terrible solution. Or look into some quality metal enamels to put on with a foam brush.