R. J. Saunders & Co. v. United States

28 Cust. Ct. 39, 1952 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 2
CourtUnited States Customs Court
DecidedJanuary 17, 1952
DocketC. D. 1386
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 28 Cust. Ct. 39 (R. J. Saunders & 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
R. J. Saunders & Co. v. United States, 28 Cust. Ct. 39, 1952 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 2 (cusc 1952).

Opinion

Oliveh, Chief Judge:

The merchandise at bar was assessed for duty at 45 per centum ad valorem under the provisions of paragraph 228 (b) of the Tariff Act of 1930 as a microscope. The plaintiff claims it to be properly dutiable at 20 per centum ad valorem as a camera under paragraph 1551, or at 15 per centum ad valorem under the first or third provision of paragraph 353, as modified by the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, T. D. 51802, as (1) articles suitable for producing, rectifying, modifying, controlling, or distributing electrical energy, or (2) articles having as an essential feature an electrical [40]*40element or device. The pertinent parts of the paragraphs are as follows:

Par. 228. (fo) * * * microscopes, all optical instruments * * *.
Par. 353. [First provision] All articles suitable for producing, rectifying, modifying, controlling, or distributing electrical energy;
Par. 353. [Third provision] 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;
Par. 1551. Photographic cameras * * *.

Plaintiff’s counsel in its brief while not abandoning its claim under paragraph 1551 as a camera, does not press this claim.

In addition to supporting the collector’s classification as a microscope, the Government, in its brief, has argued that if held not to be dutiable as a microscope, the merchandise is properly dutiable under paragraph 360 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as a laboratory instrument, apparatus, utensil, or appliance, and urges that, if so found, the protest should be overruled without affirming the classification of the collector.

In a reply brief, plaintiff contends that the merchandise is not dutiable under paragraph 360, principally upon the theory that to be so dutiable it must be used in pure science and not, as in this case, in applied science. Plaintiff further contends that if its protest is not sustained under the paragraphs originally claimed and the merchandise is found to be neither properly dutiable as a microscope nor a camera, that it is a combination of both, being two separate and distinct articles included in a single unit, and that it would not be properly dutiable as either of the separate articles thus combined but would be a new article not provided for.

The article before us is bought and sold in the trade under the designation “electron microscope.” In physical appearance, it does not resemble in any degree the common light microscope. It is a large, white enameled metal cabinet, looking more like a large automatic washing machine than anything else. While the record does not give its weight, it will be safe to assume that it weighs upward of 500 pounds. It has a large circular glass-covered opening about 8 inches in diameter set at an angle at the top. This is known as the fluorescent viewing screen. Set at various points on the slanting top of the cabinet are various knobs or controls which control the operation of the apparatus. The ordinary light microscope of common use consists of glass lenses, usually capable of focusing on the object or specimen under examination, such object usually being placed on a glass slide for examination through a series of lenses. The object or specimen, in magnified form, is actually viewed by the observer. The presence and use of lenses is seemingly an essential feature of the ordinary light microscope. There are no lenses, as that term is commonly [41]*41understood, in the imported article. The apparatus before us is described on the invoice as “parts for electron image producer.” These parts, however, were assembled after importation into the finished article, as shown in the photograph before us (plaintiff’s illustrative exhibit A). In other words, it was the entire apparatus imported in knocked-down form ready for actual assembling after importation.

A description of the apparatus and its operation was given by a representative of North American Philips Co., Inc., the importer. The protest was filed in the name of the customs broker who made the entry. This witness (Mr. Buhler) was familiar with the operation of this instrument and prepared a diagram (illustrative exhibit B) which was used as a basis for describing its operation. The large glass-covered opening on the top is described as a fluorescent viewing screen which is at one end of a column which extends into the article. At the rear of this column is an electron gun which provides a source of electrons by means of a hot filament which is heated to incandescence by electrical energy. The electrons emitted from the glowing filament are given direction and speed by means of a high-voltage field. This high-voltage field is produced by means of a high potential applied between the electron gun and a plate. This electron gun is made up of a high-tension insulator at the end of which is a metallic cap with a small aperture behind which the filament, above referred to, is located. The electrons flow from the hot filament in a stream. The electrons move axially along the column. The force which propels the electrons in a directional stream is the high voltage supplied by a high-voltage generator. The specimen to be examined is located in the path of the electron beam in a suitable holder and in proper relation to one of the magnetic electrical coils employed for shaping or controlling the electron beam. The instrument can be used to view the shadow picture or, by use of a film or plate holder containing a sensitized film or plate, a permanent record can be made for later study. Either roll film or plates can be used in making this record. The entire apparatus operates under a vacuum as electrons will not pass through glass or air, and for this purpose a vacuum-pumping system is part of the general assembly.

In use, this apparatus produces enlarged shadow images of minute particles or areas in the general fields of chemistry or metallurgy or biology, in other words, all minute organic and inorganic materials. The actual specimen is not seen or photographed. What is seen is the effect of the electronic beam as modified by passing through the specimen.

When the film or plate holder is placed in the path of the stream of electrons, it blocks out the beam so that the shadow picture cannot be seen on the fluorescent screen. There are no focusing devices or [42]*42Jenses used in connection with this plate or film holder. It is simply placed in the stream of electrons. In using the term “lenses,” the witness explained:

I am not speaking of glass lenses, I am speaking of electron lenses which are equivalent in their function but not in composition, they are not glass.

And further:

[It] Does not refer to a glass lens in any sense of the word nor to the use of visible light.

In the Dictionary of Tariff Information, issue of September 1924, at page 540, it is stated:

Lenses and prisms are the primary constituents of optical instruments. Lenses are used for three purposes: (1) To concentrate and direct a ray of light (searchlight and automobile lenses); (2) to project a perfectly clear image on a sensitized plate (photography) or screen (motion pictures); (3) to magnify an image so that greater detail may be observed by the eye.

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Bluebook (online)
28 Cust. Ct. 39, 1952 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 2, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/r-j-saunders-co-v-united-states-cusc-1952.