Improvements in Score-marking Boards for the Game of Billiards.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd July, 1887
Complete Left, 22nd May, 1888
Complete Accepted, 6th July, 1888
Improvements in Score-marking Boards for the Game of Billiards.
I, TOMLIN CAMPBELL of The Old Rectory, Scole in the County of Norfolk Esquire,
do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention is to provide a score marking board for the game of
billiards, whereby a record is obtained of the relative positions of the scores of
the players and also of the number of points made in each brake or run through-
out the game. There may also be included means whereby a record is obtained
of the relative occurances in the game of the scores, breaks or runs or places of
occurance of effective strokes and their character including "flukes" and com-
bination strokes also the description and position in the game of missed strokes
and peculiarities throughout the game for reference as desired during the progress
of the game or after the game is ended.
According to my Invention I provide one or more moveable pieces to represent
units and mounted on a support or board which pieces are capable of being
moved into different positions either integrally or relatively to the board or support
so as to give the required indications. The said pieces are in some cases marked
with colours or otherwise into different parts or divisions either of which can be
exposed as required either by moving the piece itself or by removing a shutter
or the like which would otherwise obscure the division in which case the shutter
only is moveable. There will be a series of these pieces for each player and
when the whole of the pieces are in one and the same position on the board or
when one and the same colour or mark on the whole of the pieces is exposed or
the whole of the pieces are concealed by the shutters it indicates that there is no
scoring record. When some of the pieces are moved into another position or when
one or other of the other colours or marks on some of the pieces is exposed to
view it indicates that the player scoring has reached a number corresponding to
that at which the piece whose position is changed or mark or colour exhibited is
situated and that the player at that part of the game is either ahead of or behind

page_text: his opponent according to the position of the piece or the color or mark thereon
which is exposed.
The parts which give the indications may be transparent and be illuminated
from the rear or otherwise if desired or their adjusted position may afford an
illuminated point.
The ordinary pointers may be used in combination with the arrangement described.
The moveable pieces may in some cases consist of cylinders pointers or discs
arranged to turn on centres or to be moved along rods or bars, and in other
cases studs or buttons are arranged so as to be moved into different positions in
slots or openings in the face of the board or support to indicate the relative
positions of the players throughout the game. The number of unmoved pieces
between the last piece moved and the piece previously moved, in addition to the
piece last moved show the number of points made in a break or run.
In some cases dials with pointers are provided in proximity to each of the
pieces for indicating the nuniber of points the leading player is in advance of
his opponent and for recording the description of strokes by which the scores are
made also for recording missed strokes and in some cases the pieces themselves
and other pieces contain marks which by moving the pieces are brought into
position to record the number of points the leading player is in advance of his
opponent and the description of strokes made including flukes and what may be
termed combination strokes as well as missed strokes and peculiarities of play.
Dated this 22nd day of July 1887
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, W.C.,
Agents.

page_text: Improvements in Score Marking Boards for the Game of
"Billiards."
I TOMLIN CAMPBELL of The Old Rectory Scole in the County of Norfolk Esquire
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 mode of marking or scoring at Billiards at present is merely numerically pro-
gressive and affords no view or noting of events in or the character or peculiarities
of the struggle the pointer in travelling leaving no mark of interest.
The object of my Invention is to provide a score marking Board for the Game of
Billiards whereby a record is obtained of the positions in the game of the players and
also of the number of points made in each break or run throughout the game. There
may also be included means whereby a record is obtained of the relative occurences
in the game of the scores breaks or runs or places of occurrence of effective strokes
and their character including "flukes" and combination strokes also the description
and position in the game of missed strokes and peculiarities occurring in the game
for reference as desired during the progress of the game or after the game is
ended.
According to my Invention I provide one or more moveable pieces to represent
units and mounted on a support or board which pieces are capable of being moved
into different positions either integrally or relatively to the board or support so as
to give the required indications. The said pieces are in some cases marked with
colours or otherwise into different parts or divisions either of which can be exposed
as required by moving the piece itself or the moveable pieces may be shutters or the
like which when moved expose to view material coloured or otherwise marked. There
will be a series of these pieces for each player and when the whole of the pieces are
in one and the same position on the board or when one and the same colour or mark
on the whole of the pieces is exposed or the whole of the shutters are closed it indicates
that there is no scoring record. When some of the pieces are moved into another
position or when one or other of the other colours or marks on some of the pieces or
material under the shutters is exposed to view, it indicates that the player scoring has
reached a number corresponding to that at which the piece whose position is changed
or mark or colour exhibited is situated and that the player at that part of the game
is either ahead of or behind his opponent according to the position of the piece or the
colour or mark which is exposed.
The parts which give the indications may be transparent and may be illuminated
from the rear if desired or their adjusted position may afford an illuminated point.
The ordinary pointers may be used in combination with the arrangement if desired.
The moveable pieces may in some cases consist of cylinders pointers or discs
arranged to turn on centres or to be moved along rods or bars and in other cases
studs or buttons or pins are arranged or introduced so as to be moved or placed into
positions in slots or openings in the face of the board or support which may be of

page_text: metal plate to indicate the relative positions of the players throughout the game.
The number of unmoved pieces or hidden or vacant places between the last piece
moved or placed and the piece previously moved or placed in addition to the last piece
moved show the number of points made in a break or run.
In some cases dials with pointers are provided in proximity to each of the pieces
for indicating the number of points the leading player is in advance of his opponent
and for recording the description of strokes by which the scores are made also for
recording missed strokes and in some cases the pieces themselves and other pieces
contain marks which by moving the pieces are brought into position to record the
number of points the leading player is in advance of his opponent and the description
of strokes made including flukes and what may be termed combination strokes as
well as missed strokes and peculiarities of play.
And in order that my said invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe some of the best modes with which.I am acquainted
for carrying my invention into practice some of which modes I have illustrated by
drawings which I shall now proceed to describe.
Figures 1 and 2 represent in front elevation and transverse section respectively a
portion of a simple arrangement of score marking board according to my invention.
It consists of a board A having longitudinal slots or openings B (by preference four
in number) in proximity to which are marked on the face of the board scales on which
the units are indicated by short lines instead of by large figures as usual every fifth
division or unit being indicated by a longer line than the others and every tenth.
division by numerals 10. 20. 30 and so on. Behind the face of the board and opposite
the slots Bare fixed rods C on which are mounted so as to be capable of being
turned thereon discoidal pieces D with a washer of thin metal between each fitting
a flat surface formed throughout the length of the rod the pieces corresponding in
number to the units on the scales viz. one piece to each unit, each of the slots con-
taining fifty. These pieces D are each divided by colors or otherwise into three
parts as indicated by a b and c and the slots B in the board are of such a width as
to expose to view at the front of the boards a part or the whole of one of the said
divisions of the pieces. Let for example the colour or divisions indicated by a on the
pieces represent the normal condition of the board before commencing a game the
said colour or divisions on all of the pieces being then visible through the slots B and
let the colour or division represented by (b) on the pieces be that to be used by the
player who is in advance in the scoring and the colour or divisions represented by (c)
on the pieces, that by his opponent who is behind in the scoring. When the player
who commences the game has completed a break or run or made a score the piece
corresponding to the number on the scale indicating the number of points reached is
turned on the rod C so as to expose through the slot assigned to this player the
colour represented on the piece by (b). The other player then commences to play
and when he has completed a break or run or made a score the piece situated at the
division on the scale assigned to this player and corresponding to the number of points
reached is turned so as to expose to view through the slot the colour indicated by
either (b or c) according as the score reached is in advance of or behind that of his
opponent's score and so on when each player scores the piece situated at the division
on his scale corresponding to the number reached is turned so as to expose to view
through the slot or opening B the colour indicated by either (b) or (c) according as
the score reached is in advance of or behind that of his opponent so that the relative
positions of the players throughout the game is recorded and the number of pieces
unmoved between the recorded scores together with the piece moved to indicate the
score show the number of points made in each break. If desired ordinary pointers
may be employed in the usual manner for the points made by each stroke, but one
pointer may be employed for the two scales situated between the second and third
slots or rows of slots the said pointer being capable of being turned so as to point to
either of the two scales as required so that the top and bottom scales are assigned
to one of the players and the two central rows of scales are assigned to the other
player.

page_text: While description and drawing refer to and shew a scale to each row, in this case
viz. of discs it will be apparent that one scale between the two of such rows being a
pair will be sufficient.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of another simple arrangement in which discs D some-
what resembling the pieces used in the game of draughts are employed with washers
between as before described mounted so as to be capable with the washers of being
slid along a rod or wire (C) which is flattened on one side as hereinbefore described.
These discs are of accurate thickness so that each fills the space between two adjacent
unit marks on the scale and any number fills a corresponding marked number on the
board the number of discs employed being sufficient when close together to occupy
nearly the whole length of the openings B in the face of the board with the exception
of a space in each opening or slot equal to say 3 or 4 discs a corresponding space
being left at the right hand end of each scale without unit marks.
The scale on the face of the board is like that hereinbefore described with reference
to Figure 1 the numbering commencing at the left hand side of the board and each
disc, is colored on its periphery with three different colours so as to divide it into three
equal parts indicated by A b and c as herein before described and the width of the
slot or opening allows of nearly a third being seen.
Before commencing a game the whole of the discs are arranged to the right hand
side of the board thereby leaving a space between the left hand end of the slots in the
board and the first disc of the series equal to the thickness of say 3 or 4 discs and the
whole of the discs display through the slot the normal colour indicated by (a).
When a player makes a score a number of the discs equal to the number of points
made are moved along the rod or wire to the left hand end of the slot so as to fill the
slot from the said left hand end to the number on the scale corresponding to his score
and the last disc or that situated opposite the scoring number on the scale is turned
on the rod so as to display either the color borc through the slot according as the
player is in advance of or in arrear of his opponent A space will thus be left between
the discs at the right hand and those at the left hand end of the board thereby clearly
indicating the position of the score and this space would afford an illuminated point.
The number of discs shewing the normal colour together with the last one turned
to shew bore will represent the number of points made in that innings. In this
arrangement the use of the ordinary pointer would be superfluous as discs of the
value of each stroke may be currently moved to facilitate handling the discs are made
although not shewn in the drawing with bevelled edges except at the divisions or parts
where the colours meet.
Figure 4 shews another arrangement in which small needles or pointers D are
employed for indicating and recording the conditions of the scores there being pro-
vided one pointer for each unit mark on the scale. In the normal condition of the
board the whole of the pointers are turned into one (say the horizontal) position the
length of the said pointers being such that when they are in this position the point of
one will nearly touch the rear end of the adjacent pointer so as to form a comparatively
straight line along the board. When a player completes a break the pointer situated
at the number on the scale corresponding to the number of points reached by the
break is turned on its centre into a vertical position so as to point either upwards or
downwards according as the score made is in advance of or behind his opponents
score the position of the pointers thus indicating which of the players is in advance
the number of unmoved pointers between any two moved pointers together with the
last moved pointer of the two showing the number of points made in the break as in
the previous arrangement.
Figure 5 illustrates another arrangement in which a number of vertical slots B' are
made in the face of the board corresponding to the unit marks on the scale and in each
of these slots is an adjustable stud or button D which is capable of being slid along
the slot and fixed in any desired position therein. In the normal condition of the
board the whole of these studs are fixed say in the centre of or midway between the
ends of the slots and when a player has completed a break the stud D at the unit

page_text: mark on the scale corresponding to the number of points reached by the break is slid
along its slot and fixed in position at the top or bottom thereof as may be arranged
according as his score is in advance of or in arrear of his opponent's score, thereby
recording as in the previous arrangements the conditions of the scoring throughout
the game.
In the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 16 in which shutters are used and illumina-
tion may be especially desired, there are in the face of the board A vertical slots Bas
before described each slot being divided in its length by differently coloured or
marked glass or other transparent material 7, m. Each slot is fitted with two shutters,
i, j, each arranged to cover one half of the slot, and when all the shutters are closed
the board is in the normal condition. The colours or marks exposed by opening the
shutters effect the indications herein before described. As shewn in the drawing the
shutters consist of plates of thin metal hinged to a rod k common to all the shutters
arranged in the same vertical line and the shutters all open in the same direction.
Figure 6 is a front elevation partly in section and Figure 7 a transverse section
illustrating another arrangement which admits of illumination by moveable pieces.
In this arrangement the board A is provided with vertical slots or openings B¹..
The horizontal slots B shewn in proximity to the rows of vertical slots and not
shewn in the other drawings are for ordinary pointers if used.
Behind each of the vertical slots B¹ is fitted to turn on a rod Cor a pivot as in
Figure 8 a cylinder D the diameter of which with reference to the slot B' is such that
one third only of its circumference is visible through the slot.
These cylinders are each divided circumferentially into three equal parts, each part
bearing a different colour or other mark indicated by the letters a b and c for indicating
respectively the normal condition of the board the score of the Player who is in
advance and the score of the Player in arrear as in the arrangements described with
reference to Figures 1 2 and 3 and the mode of operation is the same.
To facilitate the turning of the Cylinders D they may be provided with a milled
edge as shewn at d projecting through slots in the board A. The Cylinders D may
be made of glass as shewn in figures 8 and 9 or other suitable transparent material
and be illuminated from the back of the board. The three colours (one being pre-
ferably opaque) indicated by a b c in this case will occupy only about one half of the
circumference of the Cylinder the remaining portion being left uncoloured so as not
to obstruct the light or this remaining portion may be omitted.
In combination with this arrangement and if desired with the arrangements herein-
before described there may be employed at each unit on the scale dials and pointers
as shewn at e Fig. 5 or discs as Figure 10 for indicating the number of points
the leading player (when he completes a break or ceases to score) is in advance of
his opponent.
The dials e each have in an outside circle the figures 0, 1 to 9 and have two pointers
of different colour or form one of which pointers or hands is used to indicate units
and the other to indicate tens.
When multiples of eleven occur the two handles will be in the same line. When
the player who is ahead ceases to score the pointer or pointers is or are turned so as
to point to the numerals on the dial corresponding to the number of points he is in
advance of his opponent.
The pair of discs fg as shewn in figure 10 are free to be turned on a rod or axle
and the periphery of each is divided or marked with a scale the left hand disc of each
pair for tens being marked with an arrow-head and the numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
whilst the right hand disc for units of each pair is marked with 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
and by adjusting the pair of discs the required reading is obtained.
The divisions on one of the discs are wider than those on the other disc as shewn in
the plane projection of the disc Figure 10 so that when one of the division lines on
the one disc is placed in line with one of the division lines on the other disc no other
two lines will coincide.
The object of noting the lead of a player is to determine or shew (which would not

page_text: appear otherwise) when relatively in the game the scores are made or occur, or their
sequence or relative position in the game as in the alternating progression of two the
comparative position of one currently noted describes the progress of both.
There may be employed in combination with the first described arrangements dials e¹
as shewn in Figure 5 which is represented with one needle to point to letters or marks
placed in a circle on the face of the dial denoting the descriptions of strokes
commonly occurring and such needle is set to the required mark as each stroke is
made.
With the addition of a third dial with several needles or hands (which may be
numbered for the rotation in which the strokes occur) and a similar circle of letters or
marks to describe strokes and to be used for those that are missed the three discs
placed vertically form of themselves a unit of the score which without a drawing will
be readily seen and the position of leading player would be shown by that dial being
used that has for its use the marking the number of points of lead, the one in fact with
the two needles of different colours as before described.
Figures 11 and 12 illustrate a modification of a comprehensive nature of the
Cylinder and discs before described in which instead of Cylinders discs are employed
to represent the units or marks of the board a pair of discs fg being used for each
unit and they project through vertical slots in the face of the board. These discs are
carried on rods C so as to be capable of being turned thereon and they are marked on
parts of their peripheries with scales as described with reference to the smal discs
hereinbofore described to record the number of points by which the leading player is
in advance of his opponent. The peripheries of these discs are coloured with three
different colours (a) (b) (c) representing respectively as in other cases described
(a) the normal condition of the board (b) the score of the leading player and (c) the
opponents score. The leading colour (b) extends over one half of the circumference
of the disc and each of the other colours (a) and (c) occupy one fourth of the circum-
ference. Dises of four inches in diameter or less will be found a convenient size to
admit of distinct scales and will expose about three inches of their circumference
through the slots B'. Scales of figures are marked in those positions of the discs
having the leading players colour (6) for indicating the number of points the leading
player is in advance of his opponent and in order to more surely to determine the
said number pointers (9) may be employed mounted between the discs so as to be
capable of turning on the rod on which the discs turn and projecting beyond the
peripheries of the discs the said pointers being moved as required so as to point to the
said indicating number on the discs to which they (the discs) are set. Or instead of
the pointer an arc of metal may be arranged over each pair of discs and attached at
its end to the face of the board and having a stud fitted to slido thereon which stud
may be moved along the arc onto the indicating numbers on the discs which require
to be read together. Instead of the pointers or the are with the stud hereinbefore
described, I prefer the arrangement illustrated by figures 13 and 14 in which a third
disc () is employed (which need not be coloured or may be of all one colour) between
the two discs and g and of the same diameter as the said discs the said third disc
having on the periphery marks or letters indicating the various kinds of strokes
occurring in the game one of such marks indicating a miss made or given by the
other player. The marks on this third disc (¹) are at a distance apart say the
of the circumference of the disc whilst the divisions of the scale on the left hand or
tens disc are at a less distance apart say 4th of the diameter of the disc and those of
the scale on the right hand or units disc are at an intermediate distance apart say
5th of the circumference. This arrangement is illustrated in Figure 15 which
represents a peripheral projection of the discs f, g and h. When a player brings his
score up to a number exceeding that of his opponent the discs corresponding to the
number of his score on the scale on the face of the board are turned so as to expose
the colour (b) through the slot in the board and the figures on the discs (g) and (f)
are arranged to indicate the number of points the player so leading is then in advance
of his opponent and the mark on the central disc indicating the kind of stroke last
made is made to coincide with or brought side by side with the indicating figures on
th

page_text: the disc g and so as to form a straight line across the discs and as in consequence of
the difference of the length of the divisions on the three discs none of the other
divisions will then coincide it will readily be seen which are to be read as indi-
cating the number of points the player is in advance and also the kind of stroke
with which the brake was completed. When the position of equality is gained by
a player as and when he ceases to score while the leading colour is to be displayed
in his connection yet the scales on it are placed at zero that is the arrow on the
disc and the O on the disc g are put in position together with the mark on the
disc describing the stroke last made. The marks or letters on the periphery of
the central disc for indicating the various kinds of strokes may extend all round the
circumference of the disc some of the marks probably being repeated.
With indicators consisting of two or three discs for each unit on the scales marked
on the face of the board as described the ordinary pointers may be dispensed with and
the left hand or tens disc of the sets of discs may be employed for indicating the
strokes composing a break by turning only or alone the said left hand disc (f) of
the three discs situated at the division on the scale marked on the face of the board
corresponding to the number of points reached by each stroke so as to display the
colour (b) or (c) according as the players score is in advance of or behind his
opponent. The right hand disc g in the case of recording intermediate strokes in a
break remaining unmoved with the normal colour shewing.
The description of the intermediate strokes of a break are indicated by adjusting the
left hand disc f and the centre disc so as to cause the arrow on the scale on the
periphery of the former to point to the desired indicating mark on the periphery of
the latter and for this purpose an arrow is also placed in the centre of the colour c on
the said left hand disc f.
g on
In order to indicate scoring due to "flukes" I mark on the right hand disc
each of the coloured parts adjacent to the leading colour the letter F (or other
mark that may be selected for the purpose) which when displayed through the slot in
the board signifies that the number or points between it and the last record was made
by a "fluke."
A fluke" will be indicated in the case of the leading player when it
occurs as the last stroke of a scoring by rotating the three dises then adjusted and in
operation in the required direction so as to expose either one or the other of the marks
denoting a fluke as required. In the case of an intermediate stroke of either of the
players being a fluke the mark denoting flukes on the normal colour (then shewing) of
the right disc is allowed to shew through the slot but otherwise the disc must be
partially rotated in order to conceal the mark indicating a fluke by doing which a
portion of the adjacent colour representing the arrear score will be exposed. When
the player whose score is in arrear completes a break by a fluke the mark on his
indicating colour indicating a fluke will be allowed to shew through the slot and
similarly if the stroke be not a fluke the disc will be turned so as to conceal the said
mark and thereby a portion of the neutral colour will be exposed.
I also in this arrangement provide means for indicating what in the English
game of Billiards are called combination strokes" that is strokes which effect
two or more scores by one stroke or at same time. For this purpose I mark on the
right hand or units disc and on the arrear colour the letter "U" (or other selected
mark) at such a distance from the normal colour that the F or other mark on the
normal colour can be hidden without displaying the C on the arrear colour.
Two, three, or four effects may be combined in one stroke and the letter "C" is displayed
by slightly turning the disc (at that time shewing the neutral colour) in conjunction
with either or all but one such display or exposure indicating that the score so noted
is combined with the score immediately following the score thus marked by the C
shewing is therefore necessarily an intermediate one. If the whole combination stroke
be a fluke the mark indicating a fluke is displayed in connection with the last marking
thereby characterizing the preceding effects as in combination with it-An unlooked
for effect occurring with or in conjunction with a stroke played for and made is not
reckoned to be a fluke-It will thus be seen that the marks indicating a fluke and a
combination stroke are not required to be shewn at the same time or by the same disc.

page_text: It is also to be observed that on the occasion when the player who is in arrear ceases
to score the whole of his the arrear colour will be exposed to view but in that case
the "C" on his colour necessarily then displayed will have no significance in that it
the "C" only relates to intermediate strokes and the whole colour is only shewn for
the ending stroke. The scale on the right hand or units disc is arranged centrally on
or between the ends of the colour and occupies half of its extent or 1/4th of the
circumference of the disc and is divided as hereinbefore described by eleven lines or
points into ten spaces the whole occupying one fourth of the circumference of the disc,
the lines or points being numbered 0 to 9 except the central or sixth line or point
which is left blank. The scale on the left hand or "tens" disc similarly centrally
placed on the colour is marked on the same "advance" colour and is divided into
eleven spaces by twelve lines or points the two end ones being left blank whilst the
others are marked with figures 1 to nine and an arrow head.
The object of leaving a blank in the centre of the scale on the right hand disc is
that if a reading were required to be made at that point and the mark indicating a
fluke were required to be shown the reading would pass out of sight behind the board
to display that mark or simultaneously with that mark shewing.
To complete a marking board as last described with means other than as before
named for recording the number and description of strokes which were not successful
and also their place of occurrence in the game
I provide a number of semicircular discs H (Figures 13 and 14) each of a diameter
sufficient to occupy a space equal to that space occupied by say three or four of the
sets of score indicating pieces.
These semicircular discs are each provided with a stem arranged to slide in the slots K
in the board the discs H being also capable of being turned on their stem so as to
change the position of the plane of the disc from horizontal to vertical and vice versa.
The periphery of each of these semicircular discs is marked with characters indicative
of the several kinds of strokes occurring and other eventualities or peculiarities and
also with a blank space. On centres in the sides of these discs I mount so as to turn
thereon with suitable tightness a number of pointers L (say two or more on each centre)
and of such a length as to project beyond the periphery of the disc when they are turned
on their studs so as to correspond to lines radiating from the centre from which the
semicircle is struck but which pointers when turned aside from such radiating lines
will not slew beyond the periphery of the disc. The number of studs carrying the
pointers correspond to the number of indicating marks on the periphery of the semi-
The
circular disc and are placed alternately on opposite sides of the disc as shewn.
pointers on each stud are numbered consecutively from 1 upwards to show rotation of
strokes the pointer nearest the disc being preferably numbered 1. When the discs.H
are not in use they are turned so as to lie horizontally along the board and the pointers
thereon are all turned so as not to project beyond the peripheries of the discs."
When a player nisses a stroke the semicircular disc which is nearest his last recorded
score is turned on its stem and made to point to the piece or discs indicating his last
score and No. 1 of the pointers on the disc corresponding to the mark on the periphery
thereof descriptive of the kind of stroke intended to be made but missed is also turned
on its stud so as to project beyond the periphery of the disc at the said mark. Should
the player again miss a stroke number 2 pointer on the same disc corresponding to
the mark on the periphery thereof descriptive of the kind of the stroke missed is
turned so as to project beyond the periphery of the disc. The same semicircular
disc H remains in use until the player has effected a score after which when he again
fails to score another of the discs is similarly brought into use. If it is not required
to record the kind of strokes missed but only their number the blank space is used or
the semicircular discs may be smaller and have only one set of pointers for simply
indicating the number of strokes missed. If the discs are made larger than a semi-
circle so that the centre was clear of the stem one set of needles or pointers on either
side will be sufficient.
This arrangement is adaptable to any of the boards described, most conveniently so

page_text: if pointers are dispensed with, a row of half discs attaching with or being required
for each row of marking pieces or units.
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. A score marking board for the game of Billiards provided with means whereby
the progress of the game is indicated in such a manner as to form a record of the
relative positions or conditions of the scores of the players and the value of each
break and whereby the relations in occurrences of scoring throughout the game are
displayed and recorded in combination or not with means for indicating and recording
the description and character of the strokes by which the scores are made also with or
without means for recording missed strokes or the description of strokes intended to
be made but missed substantially as herein before described and also by the several
examples illustrated on the accompanying sheets of drawings.
Second. The general constructions and combinations of parts constituting marking
boards for the game of billiards as hereinbefore described and illustrated respectively
by Figures 1 and 2, Figure 3, Figure 4 and Figure 5, Figures 6 and 7 Figures 8
and 9, Figure 10, Figures 11 and 12 Figures 13, 14 and 15, Figure 16.
Dated this 22nd May 1888.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.