An Improved Roulette Game.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Roulette Game.
I, ABRAHAM NEHEMIAH JAMES, R.A.M., of 1, Clifton Street, Aberdare, in the
County of Glamorgan, Professor of Music, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved roulette game which has for its object to
combine instruction with amusement.
According to my invention I provide a disc adapted to be spun round on a central
pivot and having recesses or holes formed round its circumference. The face of the
disc is divided into segments and each segment or division is marked with a musical
sign or expression, such for instance, as the symbols of musical notation, so that each
segment or division has a sign of a given value relatively with the other signs.
The apparatus is used in the ordinary manner, that is to say, a marble or ball is
placed on the disc which is then spun on its central pivot whereby the marble is
caused to jump by the circumferential holes or recesses in the disc. When the disc
comes to rest the marble stops opposite one of the segments on the face of the disc
thereby counting the value or number corresponding to the musical sign in the said
segment.
Dated this 1st day of June 1896
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
I, ABRAHAM NEHEMIAH JAMES, R.A.M. of 1, Clifton Street, Aberdare, in the
County of Glamorgan, Professor of Music, 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 :-
This invention relates to an improved roulette game which has for its object to
combine instruction with amusement.
According to my invention I provide a disc adapted to be spun round on a central
pivot and having recesses or holes formed round its circumference. The face of the
disc is divided into segments and each segment or division is marked with a musical
or other sign or expression, such, for instance, as with the symbol of musical notation
or with astronomical signs, so that each segment or divisions has a sign of a given
value relatively with the other signs.
The apparatus is used in the ordinary manner, that is to say, a marble or ball is
placed on the disc which is then spun on its central pivot whereby the marble is
caused to jump by the circumferential holes or recesses in the disc. When the disc
comes to rest the marble stops opposite one of the segments on the face of the disc

page_text: thereby counting the value or number corresponding to the musical or other sign in
the said segment.
Or the apparatus can be used without a marble or ball in which case an arrow or
pointer is marked on the case of the apparatus so that when the disc comes to rest the
said arrow will point to one of the said musical or other signs.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe how it can be carried
into practice by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is a plan of apparatus suitable for playing my improved roulette game and
designed for familiarizing children and others with musical signs.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same on the line 2-2 Figure 1:
Figure 3 is a view of the reverse side of the pivotting disc:
Figure 4 is a plan of part of a disc designed for instructing children and others in
the various signatures marking the keys in music:
Figure 5 is a plan of the reverse side of the disc shewn in Figure 4:
Figures 6 and 7 are similar views to Figures 4 and 5 illustrating a disc designed
for teaching astronomical names and signs.
a is the disc divided into segments each marked with a musical or other sign or
expression, the disc represented in Figures 1 and 3 being, by way of example, shewn
marked on each side with the symbols of musical notation and one side of the said
disc being also marked with the names of the various symbols as shewn in Figure 1.
The disc illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 is marked on each side with the signatures
denoting the various keys in music and with the corresponding key notes in the stave,
the names of the keys being also marked on one side of the said disc, whilst that
illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 is similarly marked with the signs or symbols by which
planets, such as Neptune and the Sun, are usually known and with the names of such
planets.
b, b are the holes round the circumference of the disc a; and c is a hole made in
the centre thereof to receive a screw threaded pin d carrying a bearing e for a
pivot-pin fixed in the centre of a case g, Figures 1 and 2; h is a milled nut
screwing on to the pin d and serving for securing the pivot bearing e to the disc a
and for rotating the said disc on its pivot f. The part i of the case is inclined as
shewn in Figure 2 in order that the marble or ball, caused to fly outwards by the
rotation of the disc a, shall constantly return to the edge of the said disc having the
holes b therein.
The game may be played in various ways by any number of children or others.
For example, the disc a is placed, with the side marked with the symbols and names
uppermost, on the pivot f; the marble or ball is placed on the disc which is spun
round on its pivot f and it will thereby be caused to jump about from one division
or segment to another. When the disc stops the players in turn name the signs or
symbols on the segments in which the ball rests, and the player who first succeeds
in getting the ball in every segment is declared the winner of the game.
It will be evident that by playing the above game a knowledge will be acquired of
the names of the various signs or symbols, when the other side of the disc may
advantageously be employed to play another game designed to test such knowledge.
For this purpose the nut h is unscrewed, the disc a is reversed and the nut replaced.
This game may be played in the same way as that above described, except that, when
the ball comes to rest, the players in turn name the signs or symbols and those who
fail to do so are required to pay a forfeit.
Instead of employing a ball to indicate the various signs or symbols, it will be
understood that an arrow can for this purpose be marked on the case of the
apparatus as shown at j in Figure 1. It will also be understood that numbers
can be placed upon the disc a in addition to the signs or symbols and names, and
such signs or symbols and names may be varied according to the subject respecting
which it is required to impart instruction.
Instead of forming the bearing e only at one end of the pin d a bearing may be
formed at each end of the said pin so that it shall be reversible in which case
the pin would be screw-threaded at both ends for the reception of the nut h.

page_text: 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 :-
1. A roulette game designed to combine instruction with amusement and consisting
essentially of a disc adapted to be spun round on a central pivot and divided into
segments each marked with a musical, astronomical or other sign or expression so that
each segment or division has a sign of a different kind or value, the said disc being
employed in conjunction with a marble or ball designed to enter recesses or holes
in the circumference of the disc, or with a fixed arrow or pointer on the case of
the apparatus, substantially in the manner hereinbefore described with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
2. The manufacture and use of the roulette game designed for imparting
instruction, substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.