Friedman Mirror & Glass Co. v. United States

34 Cust. Ct. 236
CourtUnited States Customs Court
DecidedJune 23, 1955
DocketC.D. 1710
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 34 Cust. Ct. 236 (Friedman Mirror & Glass 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
Friedman Mirror & Glass Co. v. United States, 34 Cust. Ct. 236 (cusc 1955).

Opinion

Wilson, Judge:

The merchandise involved in this case consists of sets of polished plate-glass strips, with 17 pieces in each set. Most of the strips are silvered. The collector dealt with the pieces of glass as individual items and assessed them with duty under paragraph 218 (f) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as modified by the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, T. D. 51802, supplemented by the President’s proclamation in T. D. 51898.

Paragraph 218 (f) of the tariff act, as modified, supra, under which the involved merchandise was classified, provides as follows:

* * * and all articles of every description not specially provided for, composed wholly or in chief value of glass * * * colored, cut, engraved, etched ’* * * silvered, stained, or decorated or ornamented in any manner * * *:
Other_500 on each article or utensil, but not less than 30% nor more than 50% ad val.

The importer admits that the importation is properly classifiable under the provisions of paragraph 218 (f) of the tariff act, swpra, but asserts that the merchandise comes under that partof theparagraph modified by the Annecy Protocol of Terms of Accession to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, T. D. 52373, supplemented by Presidential proclamation, T. D. 52462, at the rate of 15 per centum ad valorem. The pertinent parts of the paragraph, as modified, which plaintiff claims to be applicable, read as follows:

* * * and all articles of every description not specially provided for, composed wholly or in chief value of glass, * * * :
Articles primarily designed for ornamental purposes, decorated chiefly by engraving, and valued at not less than $8 each * * *

Alternatively, the plaintiff claims the goods to be dutiable under paragraph 230 (d) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as modified by the Torquay Protocol to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, T. D. 52739, supplementing T. D. 51802, which provides for:

All glass, and manufactures of glass, or of which glass is the component of chief value, not specially provided for ( * * * )

at the rate of 25 per centum ad valorem.

The plaintiff takes the position that each set of 17 pieces of glass constitutes an entirety, specifically designed and manufactured for [238]*238use as a mirror frame, and, furthermore, that the glass pieces are decorated chiefly by engraving. On the other hand, the Government contends that the 17 pieces of glass in question do not constitute an entirety and are not dedicated to a specific purpose or use; that each individual piece of glass, considered separately, is of a value less than $8; and that the glass is not decorated by engraving. If the Government's contention that these individual pieces of glass do not constitute an entirety is sustained, then plaintiff’s claim under paragraph 218 (f), as amended, supra, cannot be upheld, because the individual pieces of glass, considered separately, do not come within the value limitation of the paragraph.

Joseph Friedman, president of the plaintiff company, whose business is that of assembling mirrors from parts and making up mirrors and mirrored furniture (R. 8), and Arthur S. Langlotz, a representative of Langlotz & Co., agent and sales representative for several large glass companies in the United States and abroad (R. 53), testified for the plaintiff.

Mr. Friedman stated that his company did glass engraving (R. 9); that he had had 5 years’ actual experience as an engraver (R. 33-34) ; that he had been engaged in the glass business for 20 years (R. 10); and that he was familiar with the merchandise' here in question (R. 11 and 14).

Mr. Friedman produced an S-shaped piece of plate glass (plaintiff’s illustrative exhibit 1), beveled all around the edges and decorated by engraving in the back. This engraving shows through on the front surface. The exhibit was silvered. The witness stated that' this exhibit is the same as all the other S-shaped items described in item 1 on the invoice in this case (R. 12-16). Plaintiff’s illustrative exhibit 2 (R. 20) is a photograph, showing 1 set of the 17 pieces of plate glass assembled as a frame around a mirror. Plaintiff’s illustrative exhibit 3 was identified by the witness as being representative of the merchandise covered by item 2 on the invoice. This exhibit is a piece of plate glass, which is beveled, silvered, and decorated with circular figures or ponties. It is a sample of the piece of glass fitting into the mirror frame at the center and top. Plaintiff’s illustrative exhibit 4 (R. 24) is a C-shaped piece of plate glass, with a beveled edge, un-silvered. Plaintiff’s witness stated that this exhibit is identical with the pieces described under item 4 on the invoice (R. 24-27).

Mr. Friedman testified that the only use to which the 17-piece sets could be put was to form a frame for a mirror of a definite size and shape (R. 17-18 and 28). He also testified that the 17 pieces, which are dedicated for use as a mirror frame, are engraved; that beveling constitutes engraving; and that all the 17 pieces are beveled around the edge (R. 32-37). The witness stated that there [239]*239is no other type of decoration on illustrative exhibits 1, 3, and 4, except engraving (R. 38).

It was stipulated between the plaintiff and the United States that, if the court finds that the 17 pieces constitute an entirety, the value of each set is over $8 (R. 38-39).

On cross-examination, the witness Friedman testified that all of the beveling on plaintiff’s illustrative exhibit 4 was done prior to its importation and then described the manner in which beveling and other grinding and finishing work is performed on glass (R. 39-44). He further stated that he could see no difference in the end result, whether engraving is done with a copper wheel or a stone wheel (R. 45). The witness explained the manner in which the complete mirror, of which the 17 pieces of plate glass here involved constitute the frame, is assembled. He stated that the mirror is cemented to a wooden back and that there is an edge of wood. “They [the pieces constituting the frame] are cemented on to the wood and then they catch the glass, catch the glass to hold it — catch the bottom of the mirror” (R. 47).

With reference to the use made of the 17 pieces of plate glass now under consideration, the witness testified on cross-examination as follows:

X Q. Yes. Now, do you always use the 17 pieces in making the mirror? — A. Yes, sir.
X Q. Do you ever make mirrors which require less than 17 pieces? — A. Well, we have different photographs here that we make those mirrors that have 22 — here’s a 22.
X Q. And those 22 pieces are selected from the 17 and others are added? — A. No, sir. These are different sizes. In fact, you can see it from the photograph.
X Q. Do you ever manufacture smaller mirrors and use some of the 17 instead of the entire 17? — A. We make other designs and we lay out the sizes according to the designs and we order those as sets, complete sets.
X Q. I didn’t ask you how you ordered them as complete sets, I asked you how do you use them? — A. As complete sets; that’s the way we use them.
X Q. You always use the 17 pieces? — A. Seventeen in this case.

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Related

Mirror House, Inc. v. United States
39 Cust. Ct. 435 (U.S. Customs Court, 1957)
Friedman Mirror & Glass Co. v. United States
36 Cust. Ct. 405 (U.S. Customs Court, 1956)

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Bluebook (online)
34 Cust. Ct. 236, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/friedman-mirror-glass-co-v-united-states-cusc-1955.