Wilkin Manufacturing Co. v. H. M. Loud & Sons Lumber Co.

53 N.W. 1045, 94 Mich. 158, 1892 Mich. LEXIS 1094
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedDecember 22, 1892
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 53 N.W. 1045 (Wilkin Manufacturing Co. v. H. M. Loud & Sons Lumber Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wilkin Manufacturing Co. v. H. M. Loud & Sons Lumber Co., 53 N.W. 1045, 94 Mich. 158, 1892 Mich. LEXIS 1094 (Mich. 1892).

Opinion

Long, J.

Plaintiff brought suit for the claimed balance due it from the defendant for certain mill machinery, amounting to $1,944.38. On the trial plaintiff had verdict and judgment for an amount considerably less than the amount claimed. Defendant brings error.

Plaintiff, to make its case, on the trial produced the [159]*159items of machinery furnished, and proved their value, as -an admission of the defendant as to the indebtedness.

The defendant, with its plea of the general issue, gave notice that the machinery was purchased under a special ■contract, by the terms of which the plaintiff was to manufacture and deliver to defendant two band saw-mills complete, with all appliances, etc., connected therewith, the ■same to be the best made, and was to furnish a competent man to set them up, and further warranted them to be well built, according to the latest improvements, and that they would cut first-class lumber in a first-class manner to the amount of 100,000 feet each per day of 20 .hours; that plaintiff failed and neglected to send an ■experienced man to set the mills up, and that they were so unskillfully put up that they cut poor lumber, and would not cut 100,000 feet each per day, and did not run properly, but broke, thereby causing great delay and expense; ■also that the plaintiff did not send the said mills and machinery within the time agreed upon and fixed for the •delivery, to the damage of defendant, which it would recoup on the trial.

Defendant introduced in evidence what it claimed to be •the contract of warranty. This contract, if any was made, ••consists of certain letters and telegrams passing between the parties, as follows:

“Milwaukee, Wis., Dec. 26, 1888.
•“Loud & Sons,
“Oscoda, Mich.
“Gentlemen: We propose to furnish you with two of our right and left hand eclipse band mills, all complete, except .foundation, bolts, and belts, equipped as follows: To be used with heavy iron-frame foundation, with iron brackets ■to carry the lower shaft, sawyer’s lever and connections in front or behind. N umber of saws, fifteen. Gauge, ten inches wide, and forty-nine and 6-10ths feet long. Pitch •of teeth, one and ■£. Kind of guides to be used, roller guides. Shipping weight, approximate. Price $3,000, f. [160]*160o. b. Milwaukee, Wis. We agree to furnish a competent, man to adjust and start this band mill, and we fully guarantee this machine as to material, workmanship,, and general performance.
“Very respectfully,
“The Wilkin Meg. Co.
“By Theodore Y. Wilkin, Y. P.”'
“Wilkin Meg. Company,
“ Milwaukee, Wis.
“Gentlemen: We accept your proposition in full, and you will please enter our order for the band mill, etc., as; specified in the above proposition, and ship said machinery addressed to us, addressed at Oscoda, State of Michigan, via the best route, on or before February 15, 1889, for which we agree to pay you as follows: $1,500 on receipt, of bill of lading, and $1,500 in four months-days after-receipt of machinery, provided said machinery comes up: to your representations. We further agree to insure said1 machinery to the amount of unpaid account, loss, if any,, payable to the Wilkin Mfg. Company, as their interest may appear, and policy delivered to them within ten days after-receipt of said machinery.
“We further guarantee the above mills to be-: the heaviest mills made, and they will cut as, much lumber, or more, and do it as perfectly, as any mill now on the market.
“We accept the above proposition in full.
“ [Signed]--.”
'On the margin is written, “ Changed .to conform to our letter.”
“ Oscoda, Mich., Dec. 28, ’88-“The Wilkin Meg. Company,
“Milwaukee, Wis.
“Gentlemen: We accept the terms quoted us by J. W. Brown of 5J cents per pound, finished weight, for all the mill machinery shown on blue print No. 1, a list of which we herewith inclose, the- shipment to be made not later than February 15, 1889, all to be first-class stock and finish. We also accept your offer to furnish us two band mills, one right and one left hand, as per your proposition of December 26,'including guaranty, but with roller guides. We will make payments as follows: One-half the entire in four months, and one-half in six months, from the time [161]*161of shipment, giving notes therefor, with interest at six per cent, after three months from shipment.
.“ Yours, etc.,
“The H. M. Loud & Sons Lumber Co.
“By H. M. Loud, Pres.”
“Milwaukee, Wis., Jan. 4, 1889.
“Messrs. H. M. Loud & Sons,
“ Oscoda, Mich.
“Gentlemen: As telegraphed, we write about the terms in the contract. It is not usual at the pripe per pound work to make terms other than cash, and at 5-J- cents per pound we simply make nothing on the work; besides, the price of $3,000 on those band mills is about $200 lower than we ought to have received. Therefore half the entire amount in four months, and one-half in six months, from the date of shipment, in notes bearing interest at the rate of six per cent, after three months, is too much to ask, and we hope you will grant the arrangement for payments as follows: One-half at date of shipment, in four-months note, interest bearing at six per cent., first for the machinery and second for the band mills; that is, we can negotiate settlement for the last half the machinery exclusive of band mills, — separate the last half the band mills. The only material difference, we ask interest from date of shipment, which really we are entitled to, aside from the considerations of prices as referred to, and to ■ get the paper for us as soon' after shipment as possible, • which will accommodate us without cost to you. Our bank. refuses six-months paper except at eight per cent. On four months and under we pay seven per cent. Kindly write us if the foregoing will be satisfactory.
“ Respectfully,
“The Wilkin Meg. Oo.
“Per John W. Morris.”

It appears from this correspondence that the plaintiff wrote the proposition of December 26, 1888, and mailed, it to defendant, inclosing with it the acceptance* in blank for the defendant to sign and return. Instead of signing this acceptance, the defendant wrote upon the margin of it, “Changed to conform to our Tetter.” Defendant then wrote a letter, not of acceptance in full of the plaintiff’s [162]*162proposition, but one changing the times and terms of payment.- In answer to this, the plaintiff wired that it had entered the order, but adding, “See letter.” This is followed by a letter on the next day, suggesting different times and terms of payment then proposed by defendant. This last letter was never answered by the defendant, so far as disclosed by the record, and the time of payment never agreed upon.

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Bluebook (online)
53 N.W. 1045, 94 Mich. 158, 1892 Mich. LEXIS 1094, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wilkin-manufacturing-co-v-h-m-loud-sons-lumber-co-mich-1892.