Alka Bottle Capping Machine Co. v. United States

12 Cust. Ct. 401, 1944 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 480
CourtUnited States Customs Court
DecidedMarch 20, 1944
DocketNo. 5990
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 12 Cust. Ct. 401 (Alka Bottle Capping Machine Co. v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Customs Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Alka Bottle Capping Machine Co. v. United States, 12 Cust. Ct. 401, 1944 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 480 (cusc 1944).

Opinion

La whence, Judge:

An importation from Sweden was invoiced as “1-Alka Capping Machine Type B 10, right-hand rotating, complete but exclusive of El. motor, Machine No. 1820” and “1-Alka Capping Machine Type B 10, left-hand rotating, complete but exclusive of El. motor, Machine No. 1821,” respectively. They were appraised át a total sum of 36,615.70 Swedish kronor net, as representing the foreign value, under section 402 (c) of the Tariff Act of 1930.

The invoice also bears a red-ink notation which reads “Excess Spare Pai’ts of Machines n. s. p. f. Appr. value Sw. Xr. 1256 * * *.”

The eri’oneous appraisal of the machines in a lump sum as above set forth was doubtless inadvertent, inasmuch as the record shows that the Government examiner noted in lead pencil on the invoice the unit value of each machine as “18200 Sw. Kr. ea. plus pkg.” (Note section 500 (a) (1) and (e) of said act.)

Notwithstanding the foregoing circumstances, it-is incumbent upon me to determine the value of the merchandise (section 501 of said act) if the necessary elements of value, as defined in section 402 of said act, are established by the record. United States v. F. W. Woolworth Co. et al., 22 C. C. P. A. (Customs) 184, T. D. 47126.

Plaintiff contends that there is neither a foreign, nor an export, nor a United States value for such or similar merchandise, and that it has established the cost of production of said machines as defined in section 402 (f) of said act, which should be adopted as the value of said merchandise.

The Government contends in its brief that the evidence establishes a foreign value for said merchandise as defined in section 402 (c), supra. It concedes that there is no export value, but asserts that plaintiff has failed to prove United States value as a condition precedent to invoking cost of production. It further contends that the appeal for reappraisement, so far as it relates to “Excess Spare Parts,” should be dismissed on the ground that said parts were neither invoiced nor entered.

By its appeal for reappraisement plaintiff has undertaken the burden of proving that there is no foreign, export, or United States value for this merchandise, and that the value should be based upon the cost of production as defined in section 402 (f), supra.

It being conceded by both parties that there is no export value, it becomes a matter of first importance to determine whether plaintiff has proved the absence of a foreign value for the merchandise as defined in section 402 (c), supra. In support of this contention plaintiff relies largely upon the information contained in the affidavit of Gunnar Rooth (exhibit 1).

Affiant describes himself as the general manager of Alka Alu-miniumkapslar of Linkoping, Sweden, which manufactures various types of bottle-capping machines, of which the B-10, supra, is one type. [403]*403He further deposes that his company sold bottle-capping machines in Sweden to two “dealers” only, and—

* * * divided the sale territories in northern Sweden and southern Sweden between them respectively. Aside from the sales made to these special dealers, representing the northern and southern half of Sweden respectively, Alka made no other sales in Sweden for home consumption. The special dealers in Sweden sold only to consumers in their particular territory and the terms and conditions of sale were, in all instances, fixed by Alka. These machines sold to users by the special dealers in Sweden, were installed, serviced, and repaired in Sweden by the manufacturing company itself.

Deponent further' states that—

In order to fill the varied requirements of different bottlers my company has designed a series of types and sizes of capping machines based upon Alka’s originally patented apparatus. One of these styles or types will, in each case, constitute the basic apparatus from which the complete machine is built for the particular requirements of the buyer. Upon this basic machine is constructed those devices, dies, stamps, and motors of particular character and speed required to meet the consumers’ specific needs.

It appears that specific machines were not kept on hand for sale or display; that it was the usual custom for'—

dealers to display an Alka bottle-capping machine by arranging for prospective customers to visit any one of the plants where the machines built by Alka were in operation.

Deponent also declares that—

In many instances where these machines were constructed for sale outside of Sweden, various parts, motors, and gears of specific size could be obtained in the particular country where the machine was to be installed for use. Information of this sort having first been received from the dealer, we would thereupon omit from the machine those parts which could be supplied in the country of use. In the case of the B-10 machines shipped to Mr. Dessing in 1938, we omitted certain electric motors, gears, and sprockets which he could obtain in the United States. Of course, in Sweden, the entire machine was constructed by the manufacturer, in accordance with plans and details submitted by the dealer.

He also stated that his company did not build any machines such as those in this importation for use in Sweden during 1938.

Plaintiff’s witness Dessing, manager of the importing company, Who showed great familiarity with these machines, testified that they were made to order; that no two were alike; that there were no standard prices; that there were differences in the cutting dies and stamps required for different types of bottles; that conveyors, gears, and pulleys had to be changed; and that while the machines were built in accordance with basic patents, nevertheless certain parts required alteration to meet the required needs of each customer.

The Government introduced, as collective exhibit 9, the report of Treasury representative Charles Kruszewski, in which it is stated that the—

Manufacturer freely offers and sells identical B 10 machines in Sweden. The current price according to typed price list on file of manufacturer is Sw. Kr. [404]*40418,200.00 unpacked or crated. Delivered fob destination. Not lower at factory because manufacturer usually delivers by own truck. There are two agents in Sweden selling manufacturer’s ma'chines in Sweden. One covering the northern part and located in Stockholm; the other covering the southern part and located in Goeteborg. The machines are invoiced to them and from the gross price manufacturer allows these agents 10%. If extra parts are delivered these are charged extra. Erection fees are also charged extra. There is no restriction on the use of the machines by the ultimate purchaser who are always users of the machines.

Attached to said report is a reference to a sale made August 27, 1938, as follows:

August 27, 1938: Agent A/B Broederne Herrmann,
Stockholm.
Exp. S. 8372 Delivery free Sundsval incl. crating.
Litt. 110 30 days net.
For Sundsvall Brewery A/B., Sundsvall,
1 fully automatic cap making and bottle sealing machine type Sw. Kr. ALKA B 10, complete, machine No. 1813 Extra for transportation 18, 200. 00 bench__ 68. 50

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
12 Cust. Ct. 401, 1944 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 480, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/alka-bottle-capping-machine-co-v-united-states-cusc-1944.