An Improved Game of Chance.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 8th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 17th Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Game of Chance.
I, THOMAS THOMPSON of 9, St. James Street, Burnley, in the County of
Lancaster, Herbalist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to that class of games of chance, in which a small board
is used, marked off with any suitable number of squares running from corner to
corner, and squares running also diagonally from the corners to the centre of the
board, which is designated "home" these diagonal tracks of squares being usually
of different colours.
Hitherto it has been customary to commence this class of game by each player
throwing a dice; the player who first throws a certain number commences the
game. He then places a coloured counter or a small disc of bone, paper or the
like on to the bottom corner square of the same colour, and commences to play all
round the board, and travels as many squares at a time as the number which
happens to turn up when it comes to his throw. The other players are not allowed
to play until they are successful in throwing the proper number. The player who
gets all his counters "home" first wins the game.
My invention is an improvement on the above class of game. In carrying out
my invention I dispense with the dice, and in substitution thereof I use a needle or
pointer, either fixed or loosely mounted on a small stud in the centre of the playing
board, and capable of being whirled round by the hand. Arranged in a circle
around the needle is a series of numbered divisions, and the player, who in
whirling the needle round, has the good luck to cause the needle to stop at a given
number, say No. 1, commences the game. He then places his counter on the
bottom corner square of the same colour, travels all round the board until he comes
to the square whence he started, when he follows the track to the centre of the
board.
Although my invention dispenses with the use of dice, and saves the trouble of
the players having to hand dice round, this by no means constitutes the only
advantage. To add interest to the game, and cause speculation to run high as to
who is to get "home" first, I strike off a number of division lines radiating from
the centre of the board, and terminating in width equal to the squares. According
to the rules which may be devised, if any player should cause the needle or pointer
to stop and point exactly in the same division corresponding to the square on
which there is a counter, such counter will have to be returned to starting point.
The interest in the game is thus augmented enormously. A player may have the
best of luck, may be going rapidly round the board, may even be on the last
square "home," when he is suddenly checked in his career, owing to being face to
face with the pointer, and has to commence at the very beginning again with that
counter.
Dahin esh day of a 1809
THOS. RICHMOND,
Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Game of Chance.
I, THOMAS THOMPSON of 9, St. James Street, Burnley, in the County of
Lancaster, Herbalist, 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 that class of games of chance, in which a small board
is used, marked off with any suitable number of squares running from corner to
corner, and squares running also diagonally from the corners to the centre of the
board, which is designated "home, these diagonal tracks of "squares" being
usually of different colours.
Hitherto it has been customary to commence this class of game by each player
throwing a dice; the player who first throws a certain number commences the
game. He then places a coloured counter or a small disc of bone, paper or the
like on to the bottom corner square of the same colour, and commences to play all
round the board, and travels as many squares at a time as the number which
happens to turns up when it comes to his throw.
The other players are not allowed to play, until they are successful in throwing
the proper number. The player, who gets all his counters "home" first, wins the
game.
My invention is an improvement on the above class of games. In carrying out
my invention, I dispense with the dice, and in substitution thereof, I use a needle
or pointer, either fixed or loosely mounted on a small stud in the centre of the
playing board, and capable of being whirled round by the hand. Arranged in a
circle around this needle is a series of numbered divisions, and the player, who in
whirling the needle round has the good luck to cause the needle to stop at a given
number, say number one, commences the game. He then places his counter on the
bottom corner square of the same colour travels all round the board, until he comes
to the square whence he started, when he follows the track to the centre of the
board.
Although my invention dispenses with the use of dice and saves the trouble of
the players having to hand dice round, this by no means constitutes the only
advantage. To add interest to the game, and cause speculation to run high as to
who is to get "home" first, I strike off a number of division lines radiating from
the centre of the board, and terminating in width equal to the squares. According
to the rules which may be devised, if any player should cause the needle or pointer
to stop and point exactly in the same division, corresponding to the square on
which there is a counter, such counter will have to be returned to starting point.
The interest in the game is thus augmented enormously. A player may have the
best of luck, may be going rapidly round the board, may even be on the last
square home, when he is suddenly checked in his career owing to being face to face
with the pointer, and has to commence at the very beginning again with that
counter.
In the accompanying drawings is clearly shewn my improved game of chance.
A is the needle or pointer, which when. turned or spun at B stops or points at one
of the figures, which circumscribe it.
The player who happens to cause the needle or pointer to stop at a given number,
say number one, may commence the game. The other players cannot proceed until
they also have got number one.
Assuming that the square C is of the same colour corresponding to the counter
of the successful competitor, he places his counter on such square. Then he spins
the pointer for a second time, and at whatever number it stops, he moves his
counter as many times forward. This he, in turn repeats again and again, until
ultimately he arrives at the point D, when he takes the diagonal track to the
1.

page_text: centre of the board. Should he succeed in travelling the board without being over-
taken by any of his competitors, and reaches the square marked "home" in safety,
he is considered to have won the game, but if, on the other hand, any one should
by chance cause the pointer to stop and point at the square on which his counter
may for the time being be placed, such counter will have to be returned to starting
point, unless such square is marked S (safe) in which case it is unaffected.
The radiating lines from the centre of the board clearly determine the relative
position of the counter with the needle or pointer.
One or any number of counters may be used by each competitor.
The squares round the board are preferably numbered as shewn, in order that
the players may see at a glance on what square to place their counters in proceeding
round the board.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is :-
1. The improved game of chance, substantially as described, and illustrated.
2. The spinner, needle or pointer A circumscribed by numbers or letters in com-
bination with a playing board and counters, substantially as described and illustrated
for the purpose specified.
3. Providing the playing board with radiating lines from the centre of the board
for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 7th day of November 1892.
THOS. RICHMOND,
Patent Agent.