Year: 1887

page_text: WILLIAM FAIRSERVICE 73 Tappersfield Road Nunhead Fishing Winch Maker, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
The Automatic Billiard and Pool Indicator consists of a frame about 5 x 2 ft. with
two large faces (one for spot and one for plain) on which figures or numbers are
arranged from 0 to 20,000. As the large hand revolves it automatically indicates the
numbers up to 100 and in the smaller circle up to 1,000 and on the smaller face it
registers the numbers up to 20,000.
In the spaces between the faces is an arrangement showing the lives and stars
at Pool.
The Indiantar is worked by an arrangement of cogs & pinions.

page_text: I, WILLIAM FAIRSERVICE of 73 Tappesfield Road Nunhead Fishing Winch Maker,
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:
My Invention has for its object to provide an indicator for the automatic registering
of the number of points scored in games of skill such for instance as Billiards, Pool
and the like.
The device or appliance according to my Invention comprises an enclosing case of
suitable shape and size, plain or ornamental as may be desired, having inserted in the
front thereof two faces or dials, one representing plain and the other spot. Said faces
or dials are graduated and figured in two concentric circles, the numbers or figures
upon the outer circle, ranging from 1 to 50 and the numbers or figures on the inner
or smaller circle range from 50 to 1,000. A third smaller circle having numerals or
figures ranging from 1,000 to 20,000 is provided in a suitable position upon each of
the above faces or dials.
one.
Within the enclosing case above referred to and at the back of the aforesaid faces
or dials are arranged two series or trains of cog wheels and pinions gearing one
with another in the following manner-Upon a common axis or spindle is loosely
mounted a pinion, the sleeve or collar of which extends through a central hole in
the face or dial, and upon the extremity of which is secured in any suitable manner
an index pointer or hand. The pinion above referred to gears with a wheel, the
number of teeth of which relatively to that of the pinion aforesaid is as four to
A second pinion secured to the above mentioned wheel gears with a second
wheel mounted upon the common axis or spindle imparting motion thereto in the
ratio of five revolutions to one of the last referred to wheel. Upon the collar or
sleeve of this second last referred to wheel is secured a second shorter index pointer
or hand. A pinion upon the second wheel actuates a third wheel imparting to the
latter a motion relatively to the last referred to wheel and pinion as five to one.
A fourth wheel, the sleeve or collar of which also projects through a perforation in
the above described face or dial has a short index pointer or hand mounted thereon,
for the purpose hereinafter described. The motion imparted to the fourth wheel by
and relative to the pinion of the third wheel is in the ratio of five of the latter to
one of the former.
The mode of operating the device or appliance according to my invention is as
follows, that is to say -A knob, stud, button or equivalent is secured to the longer of
the two centrally mounted index pointers or hands, by means of which said index
pointer may he revolved upon the common axis above mentioned. Upon making one
revolution of said index pointer indicating the registering of 50 points, the second
shorter of the two index pointers or hands will have moved forward one space
indicating 50 points. Upon a second complete revolution of the first index.pointer or

page_text: hand the second index pointer will register 100, and so on until upon the twentieth
complete revolution of the first index pointer or hand the second index pointer will
having already registered 1,000 point to zero, and the small index pointer or hand of
the small supplementary face or dial will indicate 1000.
By the means above according to my invention any number of points up to 20,000
as also any number of games may be registered; I do not however limit myself to
this or any specific number, as they may be varied to suit different circumstances.
In order to prevent the possibility of fraudulent marking by revolving the index
pointer or hand backwards I provide a "back-slash" pawl, or the like which allowing
of the index pointer or hand being moved from left to right, corresponding to the
movement of the hands of a time piece, will prevent any attempt at a reverse motion.
With a view also of calling attention to the registering of the scores, I mouni upon
the sleeve or collar to which is attached the units index pointer or hand, a star-wheel
cog-wheel or equivalent which in its rotation actuates a pivoted pawl having attached
thereto a hammer, which latter upon being released by the star-wheel or equivalent
aforesaid strikes a gong upon the recording or registering of each point.
two
Upon the front of the enclosing case above described and preferably between the
two faces or dials, I mount upon the back thereof a number of discs, having marked
thereon three circular marks to represent "lives" in the game of Pool, and
stars." These circular marks and stars are exposed to view through apertures formed
in the front of the enclosing case, and the discs are actuated by means of studs,
buttons or equivalents projecting beyond the front of the enclosing case aforesaid.
Said projecting studs, buttons or equivalents are colored to correspond with the
various balls employed in the game of Pool.-A "back-slash" engaging with a
ratchet or cog-wheel prevents any reverse motion of the marked disc above described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. An apparatus for scoring billiards and similar games whereby on moving a
units index pointer or hand, two supplementary index pointers or hands are auto-
matically and simultaneously actuated substantially as herein described.
Second. In an apparatus for scoring or recording billiards and the like games the
means which I employ for preventing fraudulent marking by the reverse movement
of the index pointer or hand substantially as set forth.
Third. In the apparatus herein described for recording billiards and similar games
the adaptation thereto and employment therewith of a gong substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
Dated this Seventeenth day of September 1888.
WILLIAM FAIRSERVICE,
73, Tappesfield Road, Nunhead.