A. W. Fenton Co. v. United States

46 Cust. Ct. 147
Procedural entryThis page is a short order in A. W. Fenton Co. v. United States. Read the opinion of the Court — 40 Cust. Ct. 327
United States Customs Court·Decided April 10, 1961·No. C.D. 2248·Published

Opinion

LawkeNce, Judge:

An importation, described on the consular invoice as “200 pieces Type 7K21” finished hardened steel balls, was classified by the collector of customs as “Parts of articles suitable for controlling speed of arbors, drums, etc.,” and it is conceded by plaintiff, in its brief, that the articles “were designed for use, and are used, as essential parts of articles suitable for controlling the speed of arbors, drums, etc.” Duty was imposed on the articles at the rate of 45 per centum ad valorem as provided in paragraph 368 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. §1001, par. 368), as modified by the trade agreement with Switzerland, 90 Treas. Dec. 174, T.D. 53832.

Plaintiff, by its protest, and an amendment thereof, makes alternate claims for lower rates of duty than the rate assessed, but, in its brief filed herein, limits its claim to classification of the merchandise in paragraph 321 of said act (19 U.S.C. §1001, par. 321), as modified by the Annecy Protocol to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, 84 Treas. Dec. 403, T.D. 52373, supplemented by Presidential proclamation, 85 Treas. Dec. 116, T.D. 52462, as “Antifriction balls * * *, whether finished or unfinished, for whatever use intended,” which are subject to duty at the rate of 4 cents per pound, plus 12% per centum ad valorem.

At the trial, it was stipulated and agreed between the parties that the merchandise in controversy is composed wholly or in chief value of steel.

[149]*149Plaintiff introduced illustrative exhibit 1, which is a model of a speed variator, with a cutaway section disclosing the interior of the variator with the so-called finished hardened steel balls therein being of a smaller size than those actually imported. Defendant introduced exhibits A and B, consisting of promotional material in the form of pamphlets distributed to the trade by the Cleveland Worm & Gear Co., Ltd., the actual importer.

Plaintiff called as its witness George H. Acker, president of the Cleveland Worm & Gear Co., Ltd. A witness called by the Government was unable to give probative evidence due to sustained objections to his qualifications.

The gist of Acker’s testimony is that he had been with the importing company since 1923 in the capacity of engineer, chief engineer, vice president in charge of production, executive vice president, and, finally, president. He had received a mechanical engineering degree from Cornell University; had specialized in the power transmission field, which involved detailed study of frictional matters; and had—

* * * propounded the theory and developed the rating practices for worm gear rating for the American Gear Manufacturer’s Association.

The witness was familiar with the nature, function, and uses of the articles in controversy, which he stated were designed according to specifications supplied 'by his company for a specific use. The sphericity is accurately controlled; they are treated to a high degree of hardness; they are closely matched in size and supplied in matched sets. The balls are aged in the process of manufacture to achieve size stability and have an accurately finished bore extending through their diameter.

The balls are used in a device known as a speed variator, represented by illustrative exhibit 1—

* * * which has the function of infinitely regulating speed from a constant speed input source over a range of approximately nine to one.

The appearance and function of the balls and an examination of the three exhibits will make clear the statement of the witness that “The rotation of the shaft causes rotation of the raceway mounted thereon, which in turn causes all four of the balls in the device to rotate correspondingly. Those balls in turn drive or cause the raceway on the output shaft to rotate and the shaft to rotate with it.” The purpose of the balls is to transmit power and permit speed regulation or speed adjustment. They have a low coefficient of friction which is essential to give a high rate of efficiency. When the witness was asked if these balls have the characteristic of reducing friction when in use, he replied “That is why they are employed.” When asked if the balls operate in a raceway similar to that of other types of antifrictional balls, Acker stated:

[150]*150The outer raceway is in very close conformance with outer raceways employed in certain other types of bearings. The inner raceways are peculiar in that they are true conical surfaces. They do not necessarily have to be such. They could be given a concave facing that would make them conform very closely with other conventional bearings. But from the standpoint of low operating friction loss, this conical surface that we employ yields a better result.

The fact that the balls have true sphericity, a high degree of hardness, and were evenly matched contributes much to the effectiveness of the balls for antifrictional purposes.

Plaintiff, in its brief, states that he has been unable to find any lexicographical definition of the expression “antifriction balls” but cites the following definition of the word antifriction, appearing in the Funk & Wagnalls New Standard Dictionary, 1942 edition:

anti-friction — Lessening or tending to lessen friction, as by lubricants or rollers.

Webster’s New World Dictionary, college edition (1958), contains the following definition:

antifriction, adj. reducing friction, n. a device, lubricant, etc. for reducing friction.

Based upon the definition cited from Funk & Wag-nails dictionary, supra, plaintiff concludes that “antifriction balls” can, therefore, “be defined as balls which lessen or tend to lessen friction, and the balls under protest are designed to do, and are actually used to do, that very thing.” As a matter of fact, the word “antifriction” would seem in terms to define itself, and we are of the opinion, based upon the testimonial record and the exhibits, that the balls in controversy are, in fact, antifriction balls.

The Government, in its brief, invites our attention to a definition of “antifriction balls and bearings” in the Dictionary of Tariff Information (1924), page 35, which reads:

Antifriction Bails and Bearings.
Antifriction bearings consist of metal balls or rollers fitted between two metal cases in sucb a way that a shaft may be inserted into the inner case, and the outer ease into the bearing frame, the contact between the two cases being through balls or rollers. This arrangement substitutes a rolling contact for the sliding contact of the ordinary bearing and thus reduces friction.
The automobile industry is the largest consumer of ball and roller bearings; the bicycle affords examples of the use of the former variety. Some antifriction bearings are used in screw-jacks, many machine tools, elevators, etc.

The Government then argues that:

The involved articles in shape and use are not antifriction balls. Clearly, they are not fitted between two metal cases in such a way that a shaft may be inserted into the inner case.

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A. W. Fenton Co. v. United States, 46 Cust. Ct. 147 (cusc 1961).

46 Cust. Ct. 147 (A. W. Fenton Co. v. United States) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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