Improved Boat Racing Game or Toy.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 13th July, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 17th Apr., 1900-Accepted, 13th July, 1900
Improved Boat Racing Game or Toy.
WILLIAM CHANCELLOR HAIGH, 36, Brundrett Road, Chorlton-c.-Hardy, nr.
Manchester, Manufacturer, JOSEPH HENRY PICKLES, 29, Shaw Road, Heaton Moor,
nr. Stockport, Novelty Dealer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The object of our invention is to provide a boat racing game (possessing the
element of skill) and suitable for use as a toy, or as a public amusement and
which can be used either with or without a penny in the slot attachment. To
carry out our invention we provide (1st) A frame of suitable size and shape fitted
with a platform which represents the racing course, this platform having one or
more slots running parallel, the number of slots equal to the number of boats
employed (2nd) A boat or boats of wood or other suitable material (containing
figures representing men with oars) each boat being provided with a serrated
tumbling piece, pivoted to bottom of boat (3rd) A longitudinal rod or rods
having a reciprocal motion, to and fro such rod or rods being suspended under
and parallel with the slots in platform. In operation the boat or boats rest upon
the platform each boat exactly over one of the slots and having the serrated
tumbling piece resting upon the movable rod, this rod being caused to move
back and forth the serrated tumbling piece propels the boat or boats along the
platform and on their reaching the end of platform the bows of the boat or boats
come in contact with a stop pin which checks the progress of the boats and
reversing the action of the serrated tumbling piece causes the boats to travel
in the opposite direction. The longitudinal rods, moving the boats may be
operated upon by the hands of the players or by an electric attachment under
the individual control of cach player.
Dated this Twolfth day of July 1899
WILLIAM CHANCELLOR HAIGH.
JOSEPH HENRY PICKLES.

page_text: Road, Heaton Moor, near Stockport, Novelty Dealer, 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 boat racing game, possessing the
element of skill, and suitable for use as a toy, or as a public amusement, and
which can be used either with, or without, a penny-in-the-slot" attachment.
To carry out our invention we provide, first, a frame of suitable size and shape
fitted with a platform which represents the racing course. This platform has
one or more slots running parallel to each other. Secondly, a boat or boats of
wood or other suitable material and containing figures representing men with
oars. Each boat is provided with a serrated tumbling-piece pivoted to the
bottom of the boat. Thirdly, a longitudinal rod or rods (or bars) having a
reciprocating motion, to and fro, such rod or rods being suspended under and
parallel with the slots in the platforin, and each boat exactly over one of the slots,
and having the serrated tumbling-piece resting upon the movable rod. On this
rod being caused to move backwards and forwards the serrated tumbling-piece
projects the boat or boats along the platform and on their reaching the end of
the platform the bow of each boat comes in contact with a stop pin which checks
the progress of the boat and reversing the action of the serrated tumbling-piece
causes the boat to travel in the opposite direction.
The longitudinal rods moving the boats may be operated upon by the hands of
the players or by an electric attachment under the individual control of each
player.
To make our invention clear we have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings
in which :
Fig. 1 is a part sectional and part exterior elevation and
Fig. 2 a plan of the improved boat racing devices.
Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views of the front or controlling parts of the devices
and as they appear when ready for the insertion of a coin.
Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 4, but shewing the parts as they appear when
released by a coin and made ready for use.
(A) is the platform or surface over which the race takes place, in which are
two or more slots, grooves or longitudinal openings (B), extending from end
to end of the platform (A). (C) are the racing boats, one for each slot, fitted
with figures (D) representing men with oars (E). Each figure is mounted upon
a short axis (F), and by a short wire link is connected to swinging pendulous
plate or lever (G) as illustrated. This lever extends through an opening in the
floor of the boat, and to its free end a small tumbling-piece (H) is attached.
Directly below each slot (B) is a flat rod or bar (I) mounted upon a set of
1ollers (J) and connected to the rear end of each bar is a spring (K), the tension
of which serves to pull the bar towards the rear end of the platform. Connected
to the opposite and front end of each bar (I) is a cord (L) which passes over a
small pulley (M) carried by a fixed bracket (N) below another pulley (0) carried
by a pin (P) on the plunger or spindle (Q) and the end of such cord is fastened
to the casing (R). The plunger (Q) is mounted in guides (S), (S) and extends
outside the casing (R) where it is fitted with a disc-like knob (T).
Below the pin (P) above the guide (S) and surrounding the plunger (Q) is a
spiral spring (U), which serves to normally hold the plunger at its highest
point, or the nut (Q) against the underside of the guide (S).
Upon the depression of any one of the plungers (Q) a slight pull is put upon
the cord (L) identified with such plunger, which in turn exercises a like pull
upon the bar (I), to which it is connected, and causes such bar to move forwards.
Upon the plunger being allowed to rise under the extension of spring (U) the
bar (I) moves back under the pull of spring (K), hence by the alternate depression
of, and removal of the depression upon the plunger, the bar is given a to-and-fro
movement. This movement is utilised for impelling the boat lying above the
bar by the aid of the tumbling-piece (H) which is so shaped that in one position

page_text: and lying in contact with the bar, the movements of such bar cause it to bind
on the surface of the bar and impell the boat forward, whilst in another position
the same movement of the bar causes it to impel the boat backwards as shewn
by the full and dotted positions (1) and (2).
With repeated depressions of the plunger (Q) the boat eventually reaches the
end of the slot (B), where it meets and strikes an abutment plate (V) with a force
which causes it to leap back and reverse the tumbling-piece (H), and lever (G)
as shewn so that with the continued to-and-fro movement of the bar (I) - the
boat travels back to the starting point.
In controlling the operation of the boats by coin-freed mechanism, we provide
a small coin-holding scoop (W) which we mount upon an axis (W*) directly
below the coin slot (R) in the casing (R). This scoop we counter-balance by a
weight (W) in such a manner that when empty it lies in the position shewn
in Fig. 4, with its top edge immediately below the pin (P) on the plunger (Q),
hence until the scoop is removed from below the pin the plunger cannot be
depressed. When, however, a coin is dropped into the scoop the balance of the
scoop is disturbed and the scoop tilts over to the position shewn in Fig. 5, and
thereby releases the plunger and allows of the traverse of the boat.
The end of each scoop is in the form of a hinged flap (X) which is held in
position by a latch (X).
Upon each boat is a small projection (C*) with an inclined strip (C**) which
as the boat makes say the last impulse of its return movement comes against
and depresses the free end of a finger (Y) carried by a rod (Y*). Upon such
rod is a further finger (Y**) the free extremity of which lies immediately below
the free end of the latch (X)..
With the scoop in the position shewn in Fig. 5 and the finger (**) tipped up
under the action of the boat such finger meets the free end of the latch (X)
and pressing against such end unlatches the flap (X) and allows the coin to roll
out of the scoop on to the floor of the casing. Immediately the scoop is relieved
of the coin it tips up again, and resuming the position shewn in Fig. 4 relocks
the plunger, until another coin is inserted and so on continuously.
With the return of the scoop the flap (X) again closes the end of the scoop,
and by reason of a small spring and (or) the weight of the shorted arm the
latch (X) relatches the flap.
The rod (Y) extends across the box or casing (R) from side to side and carries
the fingers for the other scoops and boats. Each set of fingers may, however, be
independently mounted.
In lieu of a cord (L) we may form the end of the bar slightly inclined and
allow a pin on the plunger to act on such end and to drive back the bar under
the resistance of a compression spring at the far and opposite end of the plat-
form, or a tension spring at the front end, but we prefer the cord. The face
of the bar (I) is, by preference, serrated or covered with a material which will
afford sufficient friction for the tumbling-piece as it propels the boat.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is:-
In boat or like racing devices, a slotted or grooved platform, a bar
immediately below each groove, means for imparting a to-and-fro motion to
the said bar, a boat capable of moving along each groove in the platform, a
small pendulous lever depending from such boat, a tumbling-piece pivoted to
the said lever, figures in the said boat in imitation of rowers and adapted to
assume a rowing attitude, and an abutment at the end of the platform, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
2: In boat or like racing devices, the combination with the parts set forth
in the preceeding claim of a scoop adapted to receive a coin and release the

page_text: mechanism for operating the said parts, and means for causing the coin to
leave the scoop when the boat reaches the end of its traverse, substantially as
and for the purposes herein set forth.
1000
WILLIAM CHANCELLOR HAIGH.
JOSEPH HENRY PICKLES.
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Fels.Inst.P.A.,
Manchester and London.