VDO Instruments v. United States

45 Cust. Ct. 77
CourtUnited States Customs Court
DecidedSeptember 7, 1960
DocketC.D. 2200
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 45 Cust. Ct. 77 (VDO Instruments 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
VDO Instruments v. United States, 45 Cust. Ct. 77 (cusc 1960).

Opinion

Lawrence, Judge:

A concern doing business under the name of VDO Instruments in Detroit, Mich., imported certain articles described in the record as bicycle speedometer sets, represented by exhibit 1, and consisting of speedometers, flexible shafts, and hub drives.

The merchandise was classified as devices for measuring speed in said paragraph 868(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. § 1001, par. 368(a)), as modified by the trade agreement with Switzerland, 90 Treas. Dec. 174, T.D. 53832, and duty was imposed thereon at the rate of 32y2 per centum ad valorem, plus 50 cents each.

Plaintiff claims that the said merchandise should be classified as machines, not specially provided for, or parts thereof, in paragraph 372 of said act (19 U.S.C. § 1001, par. 372), as modified by the Sixth Protocol of Supplementary Concessions to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, 91 Treas. Dec. 150, T.D. 54108, and dutiable at the rate of 13 per centum ad valorem.

It is alternatively claimed that the merchandise should be classified as parts of bicycles in paragraph 371 of said act (19 U.S.C. § 1001, par. 371), as modified by the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, 82 Treas. Dec. 305, T.D. 51802, and subjected to duty [78]*78at the rate of 30 per centum ad valorem; or that they should be classified as articles, not specially provided for, in chief value of metal, in paragraph 397 of said act (19 U.S.C. § 1001, par. 397), as modified by the Sixth Protocol of Supplementary Concessions to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, supra) and subjected to duty at the rate of 21 per centum ad valorem.

At the trial, the following stipulation was agreed to by counsel—

* * * in the event the court holds that the imported merchandise under protest does not fall within the provisions of paragraph S68, then said merchandise is a non-electrical contrivance that utilizes, modifies or applies energy or force, containing as essential parts a magnet employing a magnetic force, and various gears, ratchets, and wheels, which transmit motion and activate the instrument.
* * * that said imported merchandise under protest is in chief value of metal.

The record also discloses that plaintiff, after setting forth its alternative claims, states “However, we rely primarily on the provision for machines or parts thereof,” and the brief of plaintiff concludes with a statement that the subject merchandise should be classified as machines, not specially provided for, and subjected to duty at the rate of 13 per centum ad valorem, as provided in paragraph 372, as modified by the Sixth Protocol of Supplementary Concessions to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, supra.

The pertinent text of the various provisions of the tariff act above cited is here set forth—

Paragraph 368(a), as modified, supra:

* * * any mechanism, device, or instrument intended or suitable for measuring distance, speed, or fares, * * *:
Mechanisms, devices, or instruments intended or suitable for measuring the flowage of electricity, valued over $15 each_* * *
****** sfc
Other * * *
Not over $1.10_ * * *
Over $1.10 but not over $2.25- 50$ each and 32%% ad val.
*******

Paragraph 371, as modified, supra:

Parts of bicycles, not including tires:
Frames_ * * *
Other_30% ad val.

Paragraph 372, as modified, supra:

Machines, finished or unfinished, not specially provided for: Adding machines-
*******
Other * * *_13% ad val.
Parts, not specially provided for, wholly or in chief value The rate for the of metal or porcelain, of any article provided for in any article of which item 372 in this Part. they are parts.
*******

[79]*79Paragraph 397, as modified, supra-.

Articles or wares not specially provided ior, whether partly or wholly manufactured:
**##*❖*
Composed wholly or in chief value of iron, steel, copper, brass, nickel, pewter, zinc, aluminum, or other base metal (except lead), but not plated with platinum, gold, or silver, or colored with gold lacquer:
Typewriter spools wholly or in chief value of tin or tin plate-21% ad val.
■I1 ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
Other * * *_21% ad val.

Two witnesses were called, both of whom appeared for the plaintiff.

Erbard G. Schulenburg testified that for about 2 years he had been service manager for the plaintiff company. His training and qualifications as a professional feinmechaniker (precision mechanic) were not challenged. It is obvious that the purpose of his testimony was to establish the accuracy of a Master Speed Analyzer used for testing bicycle speedometers. On March 12, 1959, he tested a Master Speed Analyzer, and, to use the words of the witness in explaining the test, he stated, “I connected to this generator an impulse counter, and which counted me with the help of the stop watch, every impulse the generator gave me.” By means of the generator and the impulse counter, the witness was able to accurately test the number of revolutions per minute of the particular analyzer “just as accurate as can be. * * * Within half a per cent.”

The second witness, Hans Von Payr, testified in substance that he had been general manager of VDO Instruments, engaged in importing instruments manufactured in Germany for use on American and European imported automotive vehicles and bicycles. He identified the merchandise on consular invoice No. 32078, a sample of which was received in evidence as plaintiff’s collective exhibit 1.

To display his knowledge of the character and utility of the merchandise represented by collective exhibit 1, Von Payr stated that, during the years 1949, 1950, and 1951, he had worked for the German VDO Tachometer Co. in Frankfurt, Germany, and, as an apprentice, had worked in all departments of the company, including purchasing, manufacturing, and repairing of instruments. He acquired information which enabled him to open a United States branch in Detroit, Mich. He also stated that he had seen the instruments installed and used in Detroit.

It may be noted here that plaintiff, at the opening of the trial, admitted that the merchandise under consideration “consists of certain speedometers, or speedometer sets, which are imported for use with bicycles.”

[80]

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Kelvin & Hughes America Corp. v. United States
53 Cust. Ct. 21 (U.S. Customs Court, 1964)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
45 Cust. Ct. 77, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/vdo-instruments-v-united-states-cusc-1960.