UTILIZING THE HOOP, RIM, OR FRAME UNDER THE TOP OF AN ORDINARY LOO, CENTRE, OR OTHER TABLE, WHETHER CIRCULAR, OVAL, OR ANY OTHER SHAPE
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Samson, of 5, 6, & 7, Little Anchor
Street, Bethnal Green, in the County of Middlesex, for the Inven-
tion of "UTILIZING THE HOOP, RIM, OR FRAME UNDER THE TOP OF AN
ORDINARY LOO, CENTRE, OR OTHER TABLE, WHETHER CIRCULAR, OVAL, OR ANY
OTHER SHAPE."
Sealed the 17th October 1868, and dated the 22nd April 1868...
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Samson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 22nd April 1868.
10
I, EDWARD SAMSON, of 5, 6, & 7, Little Anchor Street, Bethnal Green,
in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "UTILIZING THE Hoor, RIM, OR FRAME UNDER THE TOP OF
ORDINARY Loo, CENTRE, OR OTHER TABLE, WHETHER CIRCULAR, OVAL, OR, ANY
OTHER SHAPE," to be as follows:-
I purpose to add to the hoop, rim, or frame a bottom or bed of wood,
slate, or such other material as I may deem best, on which various games
can be played with balls, cues, skittle pins,' or other appliances. The tops
of the tables which are now fixed and fastened to the hoop rim or frame I

page_text: purpose to make portable, so that by simply lifting the top from the
hoop rim or frame it discloses the bottom or bed, which can then be used
for the above stated or any other purposes. I further purpose adding a
cushion of india-rubber or some other elastic substance to the interior
face of the hoop, rim, or frame.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Samson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 22nd October 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
SAMSON, of 5, 6, & 7, Little Anchor Street, Bethnal Green, in the County
of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Edward Samson, Her special licence
that I, the said Edward Samson, my exécutors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward Samson, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for " UTILIZING THE
Hoop, RIM, OR FRAME UNDER THE TOP OF AN ORDINARY Loo, CENTRE; OR OTHER
TABLE, WHETHER CIRCULAR, OVAL, OR ANY OTHER SHAPE," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Edward Samson, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
'the said Letters Patent.

page_text: party desc and cu шащи
by the following statement:-
The Invention I claim is, making tables having the ordinary appearance
and for the ordinary uses of loo, centre, occasional, and other tables
(which tables can be heightened at pleasure) of any size or design,
whether circular, oval, or any other shape, which by my Invention can
be converted into a billiard or bagatelle table (with or without pockets
and pocket brasses as affixed to ordinary billiard tables). I propose to
make them thus:-I add and securely fix to the under part of the hoop,
rim, frame, or rails of the table, which has hitherto been left open, a
bed or bottom made of wood, slate, or any other material I may think fit
to use for playing on with balls, pins, cues, and other appurtenances. I
likewise fix to the inner side of the hoop, rim, frame, or rails a cushion
or cushions of india-rubber, or such other material I may think fit to
use, and cover that and the bed or bottom with cloth, or such other
material I may think fit, thus forming the billiard or bagatelle table.
The top for the ordinary uses I affix to the hoop, rim, frame, or rails by
dovetail fastening and lock, or such other fastening as I may think fit,
so that when the table is in use as an ordinary table the interior is
secure, and when required for play the top can be easily removed,
shewing the interior of the hoop, rim, frame, or rails, and bed or bottom
affixed with cusion or cushions ready for play, which interior will
contain balls, cues, and appurtenances for the different games. To the
bed or bottom I affix a framework made somewhat like a wheel with
centre stock, spokes, and outer rim, which I propose to make the same
shape as the bed or bottom, which will keep the surface true. I heighten
the table when required thus:-On the pillar or pillars supporting the
table, and under the wheel or framework described, I fix a flange or
frame, under which I place four or more blocks or washers made of wood
or such other material I may think fit to use, through each of which I
make a hole or slot to allow a screw to pass, which screw will at the
same time pass through the flange or frame on top of pillar or pillars.
Corresponding holes will be made in the wheel or framework supporting
the bed or bottom. These holes will be tapped to fit the screws passing
through the washers and frame or flange; the screws when tightened
fix firmly the table at its usual height. When the table is required to
be heightened the screws are loosened, the washers or blocks withdrawn
from the under side of the flange or frame and replaced on top of same

page_text: between that and the wheel or framework, the screws can then be
tightened, and the table is heightened the thickness of the blocks or
washers.
Having described my Invention I now state that I specially claim,-
Firstly. The bed or bottom for playing on as applied to the hoop, rim,
frame, or rails of ordinary tables.
Secondly. The method of heightening tables, as described herein..
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Samson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
ON