IMPROVEMENTS IN BILLIARD TABLES AND CUES
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Davies, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn,
in the County of Middlesex, and No. 28, St. Enoch Square, in the City
of Glasgow, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention of
Sealed the 25th February 1859, and dated the 30th August 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by, the said George Davies at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 30th
August 1858.
I, GEORGE DAVIES, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of
Middlesex, and No. 28, St. Enoch Square, in the City of Glasgow, Civil
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BILLIARD TABLES AND CUES," (a communication from
certain foreigners residing abroad,) to be as follows:-
These improvements are intended, firstly, to afford means of readily adjusting
and levelling such tables, and to render them applicable for other purposes of
recreation and utility; and, secondly, to render billiard cues capable of being
used in positions and under circumstances where the ordinary billiard cue
could not be used with effect.
The frame of the table is of an annular form, and is supported on three
or more legs. The inner part of this frame is provided with three or more

page_text: vertical grooves, in each of which slides, on suitable mountings, a small pulley
or wheel, which is capable of being raised or lowered by means of an
adjusting screw. Upon these pulleys or wheels rests the top of the table,
which is formed of slate, having a frame of wood, and being covered with a
cloth or baize, as usual, such cloth being held down and distended by means of
an inner frame to which the cushions of vulcanized india-rubber (also covered
with cloth) are attached. To the centre of the table underneath is fixed a
rod or pin, which slides in a hole formed in a transverse piece attached to the
annular frame. This rod or pin serves to centre the table, and to maintain it
in its position on the pulleys or wheels before named. To adjust this table it
is merely necessary to raise or lower the several wheels by means of their
screws, according to the indications of a spirit level, which is let into the
frame. When this table is not required for billiards it is to be enclosed by a
cover having one side covered with a cloth, so as to form a card table, and
the other side with mahogany, for ordinary purposes; and in the annular
frame or below it are drawers for holding cues, balls, cards, or other articles.
The improvement in billiard cues consists in making them of a rod sliding
in a tube, and projected forwards by a spiral or other spring. The rod is
forced inwards, compressing the spring, and is held by a catch. The cue being
placed and held firm opposite the ball, the catch is released by the finger, and
the rod being projected forwards by the spring, strikes the ball.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Davies in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th February 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
DAVIES, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex,
and No. 28, St. Enoch Square, in the City of Glasgow, Civil Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
George Davies, Her special licence that I, the said George Davies, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George
Davies, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during

page_text: 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BILLIARD TABLES AND CUES," being a communication from certain foreigners
residing abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
George Davies, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Davies, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, and on reference to the accompanying Drawings (that
is to say):-
These improvements are intended, firstly, to afford means of readily adjusting
and levelling such tables, and to render them applicable for other purposes of
recreation and utility; and, secondly, to render billiard cues capable of being
used in positions and under circumstances where the ordinary billiard cue
could not be used with effect.
The frame of the table is of an annular form, and is supported on three or
more legs. The inner part of this frame is provided with three or more
vertical grooves, in each of which slides, on suitable mountings, a small pulley
or wheel, which is capable of being raised or lowered by means of an adjusting
screw. Upon these pulleys or wheels rests the top of the table, which is
formed of slate, having a frame of wood, and being covered with a cloth or
baize, as usual, such cloth being held down and distended by means of an
inner frame, to which the cushions of vulcanized india-rubber (also covered
with cloth) are attached. To the centre of the table underneath is fixed a
rod or pin, which slides in a hole formed in a transverse piece attached to the
annular frame. This rod or pin serves to eentre the table, and to maintain it
in its position on the pulleys or wheels before named. To adjust this table it is
merely necessary to raise or lower the several wheels by means of their screws,
according to the indications of a spirit level, which is let into the frame.
When this table is not required for billiards it is to be enclosed by a cover
having one side covered with a cloth, so as to form a card table, and the other
side with mahogany, for ordinary purposes; and in the annular frame or below
it are drawers for holding cues, balls, cards, or other articles.

page_text: The improvement in billiard cues consists in making them of a rod sliding
in a tube, and projected forwards by a spiral or other spring. The rod is forced
inwards, compressing the spring, and is held by a catch. The cue being
placed and held firm opposite the ball, the catch is released by the finger, and
the rod being projected forwards by the spring, strikes the ball.
In the annexed Drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical section of the billiard table
complete; Figure 2 is an horizontal plan view of the framing, the top of the
table being drawn in red lines; and Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of a
cue of the improved form or construction. The table A rests upon three
rollers B, fixed by their axles to supports e, which slide in T grooves made in
the interior circumference of the annular frame C, which is supported by the
legs D. The table A is formed of a flat piece of slate mounted in a wooden
frame E, and covered with a baize or cloth, which is stretched over an inner
frame F, which latter forms also the cushions. These cushions are rendered elastic
by means of a tube a of vulcanized india-rubber placed under the baize at the
upper and inner part of the frame. To the centre of the table (underneath) is
fixed a small plate b, carrying a rod or pin c, which is capable of revolving,
and also moving vertically in a hole formed in the transverse piece G attached
to the lower part of the annular frame. This rod or pin serves as a centre to
the table top, and preserves it in its position on the rollers B. In order to set
the table perfectly true and level, the rollers may be raised or lowered slightly
by means of the set screws d, as may be found requisite, according to the
indications of a spirit level f let into the outer frame E. It may be here
remarked that the levelling of the table may be effected, if preferred, by
regulating screws attached to the feet instead of to the rollers B.
When the table is not required for billiards it is to be enclosed by a cover,
either square or of any other form, fitting over the frame E, having one side
covered with a cloth, so as to form a card table, and the other with mahogany
for ordinary purposes. It is also intended to have drawers in or under the
annular frame C, with compartments to contain the cues, balls, chalk, and
other accessories, or for cards, draughts, chessmen, dominoes, and, if preferred,
for scissors, cotton, thimbles, and other utensils for ladies' work.
The construction of the improved cues will be clearly seen on reference to
Figure 3. The cue is composed principally of two tubes H and J, screwed
together. The one H, in which slides the rod I, carrying the "tip" i, and
the other J, containing the spiral spring ;, which projects the rod I. On the
tube H is fixed a spring catch or key K, terminating at one end in a hook,
which takes into the notches formed in the surface of the rod I. The outer
end of the rod I is marked with divisions, numbered, and corresponding with

page_text: the notches. In using this cue, the rod I is forced inwards to the division
corresponding with the notch required, compressing the spring in a greater or
less degree, according to the strength or force of the blow desired to be given.
It is then held opposite to the ball, and a slight pressure of the finger or
thumb upon the key K will disengage the hook from the notch, and allow
the spiral spring j to project the rod I, and strike the ball. An india-rubber
or other spring may be employed instead of the spiral spring, and it will be
evident that these spring cues are equally applicable to ordinary billiard and
bagatelle tables.
It will be evident that with a billiard table and cue of this construction the
players may remain seated, as the table may be turned round on the pin c, as
required, and the balls may be struck in any direction by simply holding the
cue in the required position, and pressing the key.
In conclusion I would remark, that what I claim as the Invention com-
municated to me is, the general novel construction of revolving billiard tables
and spring cues, as shown in the Drawings and above described, without being
limited to the precise details or proportions represented.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Davies, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
CFORCE DAVIES (10)
GEORGE DAVIES (re)