This matter came before the court on final hearing after the court had granted a preliminary injunction restraining defendants and each of them from taking certain articles of property out of premises 30, 32, 34, and 36 South Fifteenth Street, in the City of Philadelphia, Pa. . . .
Discussion
Kugler’s Restaurant Company is a well-known restaurant that has operated for a number of years in
It is argued by the defendants that the aforesaid machinery and equipment can be removed without doing substantial damage to the premises. It may be conceded that the Freon machine could be unbolted from
“ ‘The Pennsylvania rule is that a chattel placed in an industrial establishment for permanent use, and necessary to the operation of the plant, becomes a fixture and as such a part of the real estate, although not physically attached thereto; in other words, if the article, whether fast or loose, be indispensable in carrying on the specific business, it becomes a part of the realty. . . . Whatever is a necessary part of the machinery for carrying on the business is a fixture irrespective of the manner of its attachment.’ ”
A fair deduction from all the circumstances surrounding the installation of the machinery, fixtures, and equipment aforesaid is that they were installed in this extensive restaurant business so that they should be of a permanent nature, and that they were essential and necessary to a successful operation of this business and an integral part of its plant. This large and well-known restaurant was engaged in the business of preparing, cooking, and serving a variety of meals and foodstuffs for public consumption and its trade. The Freon equipment and fixtures as installed were essential to the proper conduct of a complete business. In fact, the plant of the restaurant in its complete entirety was necessary for the successful operation of this restaurant and the comfort of its patrons. Likewise the installation of the transformers cut down the operating expenses of this business and was a necessary part of the plant and equipment. These fixtures, machinery, and equipment by their affixation became a part of the freehold and title thereto passed with the
“The fact that the additional equipment in this case was installed long after the mortgage was given did not prevent its becoming additional security for the benefit of the mortgagee. As was said many years ago in Roberts v. Dauphin Bank, 19 Pa. 71, ‘As the mortgagee may suffer by the depreciation of the property, arising from fluctuations in value, from accident and from neglect, so he may he benefited by its appreciation, whether the same arises from the proper cultivation and improvement of the property, or from any other cause. No other rule -could be at all practical.’ ”
While the law in most of the cases applies to plants manufacturing textiles, machinery, etc., we believe that it also applies to any plant making products of any nature for sale. In Pennsylvania Chocolate Co. v. Hershey Bros., supra, the plant made candies. In the case of Holland Furnace Co. v. Suzik et ux., 118 Pa. Superior Ct. 405, 409, Baldrige, J., said:
“True, the cases to which we have referred deal with the installation of machinery or equipment in manufacturing plants. Nevertheless, we think the principle is equally applicable to dwellings. Judge Reader, in the course of his opinion, very well states that in these modern days a dwelling house essentially consists not only of the foundation, walls, roof, partitions, floors, etc., but lighting, heating, plumbing and sewage disposal systems also are regarded integral parts thereof. It is generally known that very few homes, are now constructed without provisions for the installing of a furnace in the cellar. A heating plant is regarded as indispensable in this climate, and is usually considered a component part of the building.
The test is whether the machinery or equipment installed in a structure is a component part of the building in which it is installed and is necessary for its operation as a complete going concern: McClure v. Atlantic Rock Co., Inc., 339 Pa. 296, 301.
We believe that the facts of the present case are within the qualifications set forth in the above case.
The fact that the mortgage was executed by Parker does not alter matters. He was acting on behalf of Philadelphia Central Realty Company and/or Kugler’s Restaurant Company. In the case of Commonwealth Trust Company of Pittsburgh v. Harkins et al., 312 Pa. 402, 411, Mr. Justice Schaffer said:
“Appellants base much of their argument on the statement: ‘The mortgage was made by an individual named Harkins. Its payment was subsequently assumed by the Miller Printing Machinery Company, but in the assumption of payment the obligation of the Miller Printing Machinery Company did not extend beyond the obligation assumed by Harkins, the mortgagor.’ This entirely ignores the true situation, which was that Harkins executed the mortgage as a straw man for the printing machinery company and that its purpose was to mortgage its complete manufacturing plant.”
The fact that the machinery and equipment and fixtures were brought upon the premises by the lessee has been answered in the case of McClure v. Atlantic Rock Co., Inc., supra, where Mr. Justice Barnes said (p. 302) :
“The fact that the machinery and equipment here involved were brought upon the premises by a lessee, rather than by the mortgagor, does not affect our conclusion. The rights of the lessee could rise no higher
The title to the property, machinery, fixtures, and equipment passing to the purchaser at the sheriff’s sale upon the foreclosure of the said mortgage, the City of Philadelphia, trustee as aforesaid, is entitled to an order restraining the said defendants, or either of them, from removing said fixtures, machinery, and equipment from the said real estate. Such articles of property which had been affixed to the said real estate and removed by the defendants, or either of them, must be returned to the said premises. We make reference to the said Johnson air compressor or such parts thereof as have been removed from the said premises. . . .
Decree nisi
And now, to wit, January 2, 1945, it is ordered, adjudged, and decreed that the City of Philadelphia, trustee under the will of Stephen Girard, deceased, is the exclusive owner of the machinery, equipment, and fixtures mentioned and described in the said bill of complaint. Kugler’s Restaurant Company, its agents, servants, and employes, are specifically enjoined from removing or causing to be removed the said machinery, fixtures, and equipment from the said premises 30-36 South Fifteenth Street, Philadelphia, or from selling or otherwise disposing of them to any person or persons otherwise than the City of Philadelphia, trustee as aforesaid. Kugler’s Restaurant Company and/or Philadelphia Central Realty Company is directed to return to the City of Philadelphia, trustee as aforesaid, the Johnson air compressor or such parts thereof that have been removed by them or either of them, to the said premises; cost to be paid by the said defendants.
The prothonotary will notify the parties of the entry of this decree nisi and, unless exceptions be filed within
NOTE. — Exceptions to the foregoing adjudication and decree nisi were subsequently withdrawn, and a final decree entered accordingly.
