A New Game and Apparatus for Playing the same.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 15th July, 1889
Complete Specification Left. 14th May. 1890-Accepted, 14th June, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New Game and Apparatus for Playing the same.
WILLIAM EDWARDS 66 St. Marks Road North Kensington W. Gentleman do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
A game to be played by four players with four toymen, or other figures, four
ladders, & dice.
The ladders are so arranged as to fold together when not being used, & to open
out when the game is being played. Rules are laid down for the playing of the
game-the object of which is to get first to a platform on the top of the ladders, the
player who accomplishes this wins the game. The game can be played with
the ladders placed on a table, or by a moveable prop fixed to each ladder they can
stand on the floor, the players sitting round them. The ladders are about a yard high,
& contain thirty steps. This can be varied. They will be made of wood or other
material.
Dated this 15th day of Lul 1980
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New Game and Apparatus for Playing the same.
I WILLIAM EDWARDS 66 St. Marks Road North Kensington W. Gentleman do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
A game to be played with ladders arranged, by means of hinges fixed to a platform
at the top of each, to fold together when not being used, & to open out when the
game is being played. Rules are laid down for playing the game. It can be played
by any number of players each of whom has a toy-man, or other figure, & dico or
counters. The object of each player is to get this figure first on a platform placed
on the top of the ladders-the player who does this wins the game. The ladders
can be placed on a table-or on a movable prop fixed to each of them, so that they
can stand on the floor, the players sitting round them. The ladders vary in height,
& number of steps, & are made of wood, or zine, or other material.
The method of playing this game is as follows. The players throw their dice to
decide the order in which they are to play-the highest to begin, the next highest to
follow, & so on, & they must take their place at the ladders accordingly. Each
player in succession throws his dice, & for every even number thrown his man goes
up that number of steps on the ladder, & for every odd number he goes that number
down. The start can be only on an even number thrown & the finish must be made
by exactly reaching the platform. For any number thrown which takes the player
beyond the platform, his man must go up to it, & down, a sufficient number of steps
to make that number. The player whose man thus first reaches the platform wins
the game. Another method of playing is by blocking any two or three of the steps
as agreed upon by the players, on each ladder, & by their sending their man up the
steps, according to the numbers thrown whether odd or even, but if the man gets
on one of the blocked steps he is taken off the ladder & begins again. In other
respects the playing is in accordance with the former method.
Numbered counters can be substituted for dice.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1-That this form and arrangement of ladders and platform and hinges applied
to the playing of this game, and the manner of playing the game, is my own
invention.
2—That this formn and arrangement are necessary for playing the game.
3 That this game is a complete novelty and is designed to afford interest and
amusement.