Staver Carriage Co. v. American & British Manufacturing Co.

188 Ill. App. 634, 1914 Ill. App. LEXIS 586
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedOctober 7, 1914
DocketGen. No. 18,810
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 188 Ill. App. 634 (Staver Carriage Co. v. American & British Manufacturing Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Court of Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Staver Carriage Co. v. American & British Manufacturing Co., 188 Ill. App. 634, 1914 Ill. App. LEXIS 586 (Ill. Ct. App. 1914).

Opinion

Mr. Justice Graves

delivered the opinion of the court.

Appellant, American & British Manufacturing Company, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, manufacture, among other things, gasoline motors. Appellee, the Staver Carriage Company, manufacture automobiles at Chicago, Hlinois. On July 7, 1909, these parties entered into a written contract, whereby appellant was to manufacture and deliver to appellee at stipulated times 500 four-cylinder gasoline automobile motors of a specified size and kind for the sum of $203 each. This contract contained the following stipulations:

“Whereas, the Manufacturer desires to manufacture for and sell to the Purchaser five hundred (500) automobile gasoline motors, and Purchaser, being a manufacturer of automobiles, desires to purchase said motors for use in the manufacture of motor cars. * * *
‘ ‘ Third, that each and every one of said motors will be thoroughly inspected and tested by manufacturer before shipment, and will be furnished complete, as per specifications, and ready to assemble in chassis. * * *
“Seventh, The Manufacturer guarantees and warrants to Purchaser that all motors manufactured and sold as aforesaid, shall be free from all defects of material and workmanship, that the workmanship and material thereof shall be thoroughly high class, and that said motors shall be fit for the purpose for which they are furnished.
“Eighth, That during fifteen months from the date of shipment of motors the manufacturer shall and will, upon notice, promptly replace, without cost to the Purchaser, or give credit for, at Purchaser’s option, any defective motors or parts that shall be defective either in workmanship or material.”

Appellant began the manufacture of these motors and on February 26, 1910, had delivered 331 of them to appellee. Of these, 36 were shipped on that day. On that day there were outstanding the promissory notes of appellee, of the face value of somewhat over $40,000, which had been given to appellant in settlement for motors delivered. The 36 motors shipped February 26, 1910, were not settled for promptly and appellant on March 22, 1910, wrote to appellee requesting a cash payment therefor. Appellee had previously complained to the representatives of appellant that the motors were defective and on March 28, 1910, wrote to appellant at Bridgeport, Conn., in substance, that its representative, Mr. Hill, had admitted that the complaints made by appellee about the motors were justified and had promised that Mr. Grulick, the vice-president and general manager of appellant, would come to Chicago, but that he had not done so, and notifying appellant that it would refuse to pay the notes given for the motors as the same matured and that it had picked out about 100 motors which it proposed to return to appellant, and asking for shipping directions. This letter concludes as follows:

“To us, it looks as though Mr. Grulick did not care to come and see us, after knowing the truth as to the situation here. The engines which we will ship back to you, you may not return to us after you have repaired them as we cannot use them in our cars, as our customers will not take that kind of goods, and we have made a contract for other engines, which we shall put in our cars to replace those of yours which we cannot use; and if any more engines are shipped us, we shall refuse to accept them.
Tours very truly,
H. B. S.”

Very shortly after this letter was received by appellant Mr. Grulick and a Mr. Hilfrey, the chief inspector of appellant, and a mechanic or two in its employ came to Chicago to investigate the complaints made by appellee concerning the motors. On April 1, 1910, the following writing was executed by the parties :

“Memorandum of Agreement made and entered into this first day of April, 1910, between the American & British Mfg. Co., party of the first part, and Staver Carriage Co., party of the second part.
“Witnesseth: Whereas the parties hereto made and entered into a contract bearing date the seventh day of July, 1909, by which it was agreed that party of the first part should sell and deliver to party of the second part five hundred (500) automobile gasoline motors as specified therein, deliveries and payments to be made as specified therein.
“And whereas it has also heretofore been agreed, subsequent to the making of aforesaid contract, that the purchaser, Staver Carriage Co., was only obligated to take four hundred (400) of the said five hundred (500) automobile gasoline motors.
“And whereas party of the first part has heretofore shipped and party of the second part has received three hundred thirty-one (331) of said motors, and that there now remains under said contract as amended, to be shipped by party of the first part and received by party of the second part sixty-nine (69) automobile gasoline motors.
“And whereas of the three hundred thirty-one (331) motors heretofore delivered many have proven defective, and party of the first part is now hereby ready and willing to repair such defects and put all said motors in first-class condition, and compensate party of the second part for expenses occasioned by such defects.
“Now, therefore, in consideration of one dollar in hand paid, the party of the first part releases party of the second part from the obligation to take and receive said sixty-nine (69) gasoline engines.
“It is hereby however mutually agreed between the parties hereto that party of the first part does hereby sell and agree to deliver any number of automobile gasoline motors, 4x4, 4 cylinder, prior to May 15, 1910, not exceeding sixty-nine (69) in number, which party of the second part may order from party of the first part, deliveries to be mutually satisfactory, and to be sold and delivered upon the same specifications, terms, conditions and warranties as contained in contract of July 7, 1909, no motors to be shipped without shipping instructions therefor in writing, and to be shipped as promptly thereafter as may be mutually agreed upon.
“It is further hereby agreed that party of the first part will furnish immediately the necessary material and men to adjust and put in first-class condition any and all engines heretofore delivered under contract dated July 7, 1909, subject to the acceptance of party of the second part upon its inspection, and party of the first part hereby further agrees to pay, or allow credit, to party of the second part on rendering statement any and all expenses, such as, freight on cars which have been returned by agents on account of motor trouble, expenses incurred in plant of party of the second part, and any and all traveling expenses or other expenses which have been paid or incurred by party of the second part to make good with its respective customers on account of motor engine troubles, and where cars have been returned for motor and other car defects, the expense chargeable against party of the first part is to be prorated.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
188 Ill. App. 634, 1914 Ill. App. LEXIS 586, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/staver-carriage-co-v-american-british-manufacturing-co-illappct-1914.