A New Game or Entertainment which Simulates Fishing.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Dec., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New Game or Entertainment which Simulates Fishing.
We, ROBERT MC BURNIE of Wallingford, Wilmslow, Cheshire, Gentleman, and
WILLIAM CHANCELLOR HAIGH of 2 Cranbourne Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Lancashire,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention to be as follows:-
The object of our invention is to provide a specie of amusement which simulates
fishing, and which can either be in the form of a toy, or be made upon a large scale
for public entertainment.
In accordance with our invention we employ a trough or tank of, by preference,
circular form, and in such tank we mount a table or platform upon a central axis.
This table lies near the floor of the tank, and is slowly rotated by suitable gearing.
Said tank is filled with water made opaque by coloring matter which renders the table
invisible. Upon this table we mount a number of toy fishes which are of a sufficient
weight to lie upon the table, and be carried round thereby. Each fish is provided
with a loop or link, or is so shaped or formed as to provide means for engaging with
a fishing-rod hook held in the water.
The game or entertainment consists in holding out fishing-rods provided with floats
and hooks, and in such positions as will cause the fishes as they are carried round by
the table, to become hooked or caught, the varying positions of the fishes and the
judgment of the respective anglers, making the chances of catching fishes more or
less uncertain and creating a great amount of amusement between two or more rival
anglers.
If desired the "fishes" can be made. hollow, and fitted with means for giving them
a jumping or splashing action when lifted off the table, or on to the ledge of the tank,
and they may also be weighted, or so proportioned as to right themselves when thrown
into the tank.
If desired the table may be dispensed with, and the tank may be made to revolve,
but we prefer the tank to be stationary.
Dotad this 8th day of Ducember 1896
A New Game or Entertainment which simulates rising
We, ROBERT MCBURNIE of Wallingford, Wilmslow, Cheshire, Gentleman, and
WILLIAM CHANCELLOR HAIGH of 2 Cranbourne Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Lancashire,
Manufacturer, 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 :-
The object of our invention is to provide a special form of amusement which
simulates fishing, and which can either be in the form of a toy, or be made upon a

page_text: In accordance with our invention, and as applied for public entertainment, w
employ a large trough, tank or natural reservoir, some ten or fifteen feet diameter and
about seven or eight feet deep, and filled, or nearly filled, with an opaque liquid.
This tank is, by preference, let into the ground or floor of the compartment in
which it is situated, and its top edge is (by preference) decorated with rockery, etc.,
in imitation of a natural pond or lake.
Within this tank and near the floor thereof, we mount a table platform or
support by preference concentrically disposed and free to revolve. Upon the said
table is a number of toy fishes which have a sufficient gravity or weight to lie on the
table when the latter is rotated, and be carried round thereby. Each fish is provided
with a loop or link (or hook), or is so shaped or formed as to provide means for
engaging with a fishing-rod hook (or link) held in the water. The water being
öpaque the table and toy fishes are invisible.
The game or entertainment consists in rotating or otherwise moving the table
within the tank and holding out fishing-rods provided with floats in exact imitation of
natural or ordinary fishing and endeavouring to catch the fishes, the constant
movement of the fishes and the position of the float, together with the judgment of
the anglers in holding their respective lines so as to ensure of the fishes being caught,
serving to give a decided reality to the game, and a considerable amount of fun and
rivalry between two or more anglers.
The application of our invention as a toy differs in no material particular from the
larger application, and in order that our said invention may be more readily understood
and carried into practical effect, we have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings and
will now proceed to describe the same with the figures and letters of reference marked
thereon.
Fig. 1 illustrates a general perspective view of our invention as adapted for public
entertainment.
Fig. 2 illustrates a transverse sectional view of our invention on a miniature scale,
or in the form of a toy.
Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate respectively the form of fish-hook preferred and one of the
fishes.
The nature of our invention being very obvious from the drawings it scarcely needs
further description, except to say that in carrying it into practical effect we employ a
trough, tank, dish or reservoir (A) of any suitable form, depth or size (according to
.its use), artificial fishes (C), placed on a moving table (B), or otherwise similarly
disposed and caused to move in the water, and designed to engage with fish-hook (D)
upon the line of a fishing-rod.
For public entertainment the tank (A) is (by preference) let into the floor of a
room, and surrounded with rockery, ferns, moss, etc., in imitation of a natural pond.
The table révolves slowly (about one revolution in 2 minutes by preference) and
continuously or otherwise upon a central axis, under the influence of any suitable
gearing or motive force.
The speed at which the fishes travel is important in that a quick speed or movement
would tend to disturb or ruffle the water, and for the purpose of giving perfect reality
the table has a slow movement.
As applied to a toy, the table is either driven by small cords, pulleys and winch
handle, or by clock-work (E) beneath the tank, and with the winding spindle (F)
extending upwards within a tube (G) to a point above the level of the water, where it
may be covered by rockery, flagstaff, or artificial bridge (H). The table is supported
by tube (I) from plate (J), which is in driving contact with the spindle (F).
The clock mechanism is wound up by turning said spindle (F), and is started or
stopped by pulling or releasing cord or rod (K).
The fishes are each formed with a link (L) or equivalent device, for engaging with
, the bait-hook (D), but in lieu of "hook and link" the fishes may be caught by
magnetic baits, which, however, would scarcely be strong enough to sustain the weight
of the fish, except in the smaller application of our invention.
Whilst we prefer a single table and for it to revolve continuously upon a central

page_text: axis, we may employ two or more smaller tables in the same tank, on the same plane
and all driven in the same or opposite directions, and continuously, reciprocatively,
and with, or without, a tilting rocking or tortuous movement. With an oblong, or
other shape of tank, we may cause the table or tables to move to-and-fro only, or at
right angles and diagonally alternately.
With the toy a lid may be provided and the top part of the tank recessed and
decorated with fixed rockery as shewn.
The water is rendered opaque by chemical coloring matter, or by the addition of a
small quantity of milk in the case of the toy. The fishes may be made of very thin
metal, or of india-rubber to give them the required weight to lie on the table, and
still not be heavy enough to break the fishing-rod in landing the fish. If desired they
may be made with two small fins, or a loose tail connected to a spring which is held
in tension by the weight of the fish on the table but which spring, when the fish is
hooked, acts on the fins or tail and flaps them to-and-fro in imitation of the struggles
of a fish to get unhooked. Likewise, the fishes may be made hollow, and arranged to
open for the deposit of presents or toys.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention
we wish it to be understood that we do not confine ourselves to the precise details,
relative proportions or dimensions of our improved toy fishing apparatus, as the same
may be varied without departing from the spirit of our invention, and what we claim
and desire to secure by Letters Patent is :-
1. The combination of a tank, dish, trough or reservoir (forming an artificial pond
or lake) with a moving table or support carrying toy or imitation fishes of the kind
described substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2. The combination of the said artificial pond and imitation or toy fishes with
links (L) and fishing-rod tackle with hooks (D), magnets, or equivalent devices, as
set forth.
3. A tank (A) with or without its top part recessed, a disc or table (B) suspended
by tube (I) from plate (J), carried by motion or driving spindle (F) as herein
described and shewn in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawing.
4. The several modifications of our invention herein described as and for the
purposes set forth.
Dated this 11th day of February 1897
ROBERT MCBURNIE,
WILLIAM CHANCELLOR HAIGH,
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
55 Market Street, Manchester, Agents.