Frank P. Dow & Co. v. United States

58 Cust. Ct. 397, 1967 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 2395
CourtUnited States Customs Court
DecidedMay 11, 1967
DocketC.D. 3001
StatusPublished

This text of 58 Cust. Ct. 397 (Frank P. Dow & 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
Frank P. Dow & Co. v. United States, 58 Cust. Ct. 397, 1967 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 2395 (cusc 1967).

Opinion

WatsoN, Judge:

The merchandise involved in this protest consists of fans described on the invoice as “Hatsune Baby Fan without battery” and “Zefyr Fan, without battery.” They contain plastic hinged blades which bend up and revolve when powered by the electric motor contained in the fan.

The fans in question were classified for duty at the rate of 55 per centum ad valorem under paragraph 1527 (c) (2) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as modified by the Protocol of Terms of Accession by Japan to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, T.D. 53865, supplemented by T.D. 53877, as articles designed to be carried on or about the person. Plaintiffs, maintaining that these fans were not designed to be carried on or about the person, claim that they are more specifically provided for and properly dutiable either at 19 per centum ad valorem under the eo nomine provision for fans of all kinds under paragraph 1521 of the said act, as modified by Presidential proclamation of certain agreements supplementary to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, T.D. 55816, or under paragraph 353 of the act, as modified by the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, T.D. 51802, at the rate of 17% per centum under the provision therein for “* * * articles having as an essential feature an electrical element or device, such as * * *, fans.”

The statutes of the Tariff Act of 1930, here under consideration, are as follows:

Paragraph 1527 (c) (2), as modified by T.D. 53865 and T.D. 53877:

Articles valued above 20 cents per dozen pieces, designed to be worn on apparel or carried on or about or attached to the person, such as and including buckles, card cases, chains, cigar cases, cigar cutters, cigar holders, cigar lighters, cigarette cases, cigarette holders, coin holders, collar, cuff, and dress buttons, combs, match boxes, mesh bags and purses, millinery, military and hair ornaments, pins, powder cases, stamp cases, vanity cases, watch bracelets, and like articles; all the foregoing and parts thereof, finished or unfinished, composed wholly or in chief value of metal other than gold or platinum (whether or not enameled, washed, covered, or plated, including rolled gold plate), or (if not composed in chief value of metal and if not dutiable under clause (1) of paragraph 1527(c), Tariff Act of 1930). set with and in chief value of precious or semiprecious stones, pearls, cameos, coral, amber, imitation precious or semiprecious stones, or imitation pearls:
Articles and parts (not including parts valued under 20 cents per dozen) valued not over $5 per dozen pieces or parts (except buckles, cigar and cigarette lighters and parts thereof, collar, cuff, and dress buttons, ladies’ hand[399]*399bags set with and in chief value of rhinestones, and mesh bags and parts thereof)-55% ad val.

Paragraph 1521, as modified by T.D. 55816:

Fans of all kinds, except common palm-leaf fans-19% ad val.

Paragraph 353, as modified by T.D. 51802:

Articles suitable for producing, rectifying, modifying, controlling, or distributing electrical energy, and articles having as an essential feature an electrical element or device, such as electric motors, fans, locomotives, portable tools, furnaces, heaters, ovens, ranges, washing machines, refrigerators, and signs; all the foregoing (not including electrical wiring apparatus, instruments, and devices) finished or unfinished, wholly or in chief value ox metal, and not specially provided for:
Switches and switchgear which are not wiring apparatus, instruments, or devices; fans; blowers; and washing machines_17%% ad val.

The record in this case consists of the testimony of one witness called by the plaintiffs and that of one witness called by the defendant, together with two exhibits received in evidence.

Plaintiffs’ exhibit 1 is a sample of the imported merchandise, consisting of a fan and carrying case and,'in addition, a battery to power the fan. It appears that the battery contained in the fan is imported separately and installed after importation. (E. 9-10.) Plaintiffs’ exhibit 2 consists of advertising literature and a paper cut holder (E. 14). Eeference to such exhibits will be hereinafter made as is deemed necessary in the determination of the proper classification of the involved merchandise.

Mr. Harry Arnsberg, a wholesale distributor since 1925 of electronic supplies such as television parts, radios, tape recorders, and similar merchandise, testified on behalf of the plaintiffs. He stated that he was familiar with the merchandise described on the relevant invoices and that it was the same as the samples introduced in the case at bar. He did not handle in his business the sale of any jewelry, cigarette items, or buttons. (E. 9-10.) The witness testified that he had seen these fans used for the purpose of cooling oneself by being placed in a wooden holder on a desk, or held in the hand. He had used them himself on his desk. (E. 11.) Mr. Arnsberg stated that he had used plaintiffs’ collective exhibit 2 in the sale of the involved items. The catalog sheet in said exhibit is distributed to dealers, gift shops, fund raising organizations, and wholesale distributors. The black circular sheet in plaintiffs’ exhibit 2 is sent with orders of fans and for use as a holder by the ultimate consumer. These materials were pre[400]*400pared by the witness’ distributor in Bakersfield, Calif., under his supervision. (R. 13-14.)

Mr. Arnsberg further testified that he has personally demonstrated the fan in connection with sales at his own place of business and on sales calls in Olympia, Tacoma, and Seattle, Wash., and has seen the fan used in homes, on bridge tables “where it has been picked up and used.” (R. 15-16.) The purpose of the case which comes with the fan, described’as a carrying case, is to protect the blades of the fan from being broken when they are folded in. (R. 16.) Plaintiffs’ witness then testified that the only place he had seen the fans carried was in a brief case, by himself, or by salesmen. Further uses, the witness had observed, were by mature, women for their personal comfort, use on a desk for cooling purposes, and, on one occasion, to dry fingernails. (R. If.) He had also seen the fan used in automobiles where, he stated, it was kept in the glove compartment. In the opinion of the witness, the fan is too bulky to be carried about the person. (R. 19.) He further stated that bases for these fans have been made by a certain manufacturer and that his company has sold some of these stands with the fans, but has sold or given away more of the cardboard stands. (Plaintiffs’ exhibit 2.)

On cross-examination, Mr. Arnsberg agreed that plaintiffs’ exhibit 1 can be inserted in a man’s pocket of ordinary size but that “it bulges out the side.” (R. 20.) After inserting the article in the breast pocket of his coat and in his trouser pocket, he stated that the article was “too heavy to carry on the person.” (R. 20.) The witness agreed, however, that the fan could easily be carried in an ordinary lady’s handbag, one measuring about 8 inches in length and 6 inches in height or width. (R. 21.) He then stated that plaintiffs’ exhibit 1 with the battery weighs approximately 4 ounces. (R.

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Bluebook (online)
58 Cust. Ct. 397, 1967 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 2395, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/frank-p-dow-co-v-united-states-cusc-1967.