Montgomery Foundry & Fittings Co. v. Hall Planetary Thread Milling Machine Co.
Montgomery Foundry & Fittings Co. v. Hall Planetary Thread Milling Machine Co.
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
Answering an inquiry from plaintiff, defendant wrote that it would sell to plaintiff two complete heads of its patented No. 3 Planetary Thread Milling Machine, for $1,600 each, stating that “all the working parts of the machine are practically in the heads.” Twelve days later plaintiff wrote, “Ship via our truck to us......two No. 3 Hall Planetary Heads with sprocket, chain and weight, price $1,600 each.” Evidently this resulted in negotiations between the parties as to what was intended to be included in the offer, but the details thereof were excluded by the court below on the objection of defendant. We can only infer, therefore, that for some
The heads were furnished by defendant and installed by plaintiff on a base prepared by the latter. It was soon learned that they would not “mill taper threads in pipe flanges.” Each alleged it was the fault of the other, but we need not consider this dispute since the jury, under evidence and a charge not attacked by any assignment of error touching this point, have found that defendant was alone to blame. Working together on the machines, each of the parties endeavored to make them “mill taper threads,” but they never would do this satisfactorily. Finally, plaintiff tendered a return of the machines, defendant refused to accept them, and plaintiff brought this suit in rescission of the contract, averring the words italicized constituted a warranty which had not been complied with. The jury found a verdict for plaintiff and defendant appeals.
In this court no question is raised in regard to the evidence, and but three touching the charge: (1) Was there a warranty? (2) If so, was there a consideration for it? and (3) Was not the right to rescind lost by plaintiff’s delay in tendering a return of the machines? What
Do the words last quoted constitute an express warranty? None can be implied, for the heads were patented and were sold by their “patent or other trade name”: section 15 of the Sales Act of May 19, 1915, P. L. 543, 547. The existence of the statutory provision referred to is, however, an important element in determining whether or not an express warranty was intended. Plaintiff wanted heads which would “mill taper threads in pipe flanges.” Defendant knew, or is presumed to know, whether this could be accomplished by those it had for sale; plaintiff did not, because ignorant of the construction of the heads. Consequently it was important for the latter to be protected regarding this, net only because otherwise the heads would be useless for the purpose desired to be accomplished, but also because considerable money would have to be expended before plaintiff could know whether or not they would work satisfactorily; hence the conversation mentioned in the letter specifying the understanding of the parties, which was assented to by defendant, that the heads, when installed, “will allow us to mill taper threads in pipe flanges.” This statement is an express “affirmation of fact,” which had a “natural tendency......to induce the buyer to purchase” the heads; the two together constituting, therefore, “an express warranty”: section 12 of the Sales Act, supra.
Some point is made of the use of the word “allow” in the clause “will allow us to mill taper threads in pip®
The final question in the case is: Was the right to rescind lost by plaintiff’s delay in tendering a return of the heads, after knowing they would not do the work required? On this point the only applicable assignments allege error in not giving binding instructions for defendant; hence all the facts and inferences therefrom, tending to sustain plaintiff’s contention, must be taken as true, and all those which would sustain defendant’s, if depending on testimony only, must be rejected: Keck v. Pittsburgh, etc., Ry. Co., 271 Pa. 479. Thus viewed the facts are these:
The judgment of the court below is affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Montgomery Foundry and Fittings Co. v. Hall Planetary Thread Milling Machine Co.
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