AN IMPROVED BOWLING APPARATUS FOR PLAYING CRICKET AND OTHER GAMES
Year: 1885

page_text: I GEORGE NOBES of 27 Dudley Grove, Paddington, in the County of Middlesex,
Plumber, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for AN IMPROVED
BOWLING APPARATUS FOR PLAYING CRICKET AND OTHER GAMES, to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to manufacture an improved apparatus for bowling,
in playing cricket and other games.
My invention consists of an iron standard, having a suitable breadth of base to
make it stand firmly upon the ground. A hollow pillar rises vertically from the
centre, having an ornamental cap or cover on the top. This pillar is perforated in
a horizontal direction to receive a propelling apparatus, hereinafter, for convenience
of description, called the cannon." The cannon consists of a horizontal tube
fitted with a spiral spring. The force of the spring may be utilised either in a
state of compression or extension, as preferred. The cannon is made adjustable, as
to direction and elevation, by means of racks, screws or springs, or a combination
of such appliances. A suitable handle is placed at the breech of the cannon, which
is attached to a rod and piston. The travel of the piston is adjustable by means
of pins or other stops inserted in the cannon, or by means of a rack and pinion as
hereinafter mentioned, and a trigger is fitted at the breech to let the spring act
upon the piston, when desired or the pinion itself may be used as a trigger, and
thus liberate the spring to propel the ball. The ball is inserted in the muzzle and
laid against the piston, previous to bowling.
An adjustable finger or pointer is placed at the muzzle, which finger is fitted to
a ring, so that it may take any position with respect to the circumference of the
muzzle, and also with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cannon. The use of
this finger is to deflect or otherwise influence the course of the ball, as it issues
from the muzzle, and to make it take a course analogous to that of a skilful bowl..
If desirable the power of the spring may be accumulated with the aid of a rack
and pinion, fitted with a ratchet and pawl, and capable of being readily geared and
ungeared, the rack being attached to or made to form part of the piston rod. The
pinion may also be utilised as a trigger.
By the application of my invention to bowling, the range, trajectory, speed,
direction, and other operations and peculiarities incident to skilful bowling, may
be performed with certainty and precision.
GEO. DOWNING,
Agent for Applicant,

page_text: An Improved Bowling Apparatus for Playing Cricket and other
Games.
I GEORGE NOBES, of 27 Dudley Grove Paddington in the County of Middlesex
Plumber do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN IMPROVED BOWLING
APPARATUS FOR PLAYING CRICKET AND OTHER GAMES 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 my invention is to manufacture an improved apparatus for bowling,
in playing cricket and other games.
My invention consists of an iron standard, having a suitable breadth of base to.
make it stand firmly upon the ground. A hollow pillar or other standard rises
vertically from the centre. This pillar or standard is perforated in a horizontal
direction or otherwise formed to receive a propelling apparatus, hereinafter for
convenience of description, called the "cannon." The cannon consists of a
horizontal tube fitted with a spiral spring. The force of the spring may be utilized
either in a state of compression or extension, as preferred. The cannon is made
adjustable, as te direction and elevation, by means of racks, screws or springs, or a
combination of such appliances. A suitable handle is placed at the breech of the
cannon, which is attached to a rod and piston. The travel of the piston is
adjustable by means of pins or other stops inserted in the cannon, or by means of
a rack and pinion as hereinafter mentioned, and a trigger is fitted at the breech
to let the spring act upon the piston, when desired, or the pinion itself may be
used as a trigger, and thus liberate the spring to propel the ball. The ball is
inserted in the muzzle and laid against the piston, previous to bowling.
An adjustable finger or pointer is placed at the muzzle, which finger is fitted to
a ring, so that it may take any position with respect to the circumference of the
muzzle, and also with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cannon. The use of
this finger is to deflect or otherwise influence the course of the ball, as it issues
from the muzzle, and to make it take a course analogous to that of a skilful bowl.
If desirable the power of the spring may be accumulated with the aid of a rack
and pinion fitted with a ratchet and pawl, and capable of being readily geared and
ungeared, the rack being attached to or made to form part of the piston rod. The
pinion may also be utilized as a trigger.
By the application of my invention to bowling, the range trajectory, speed,
direction and other operations and peculiarities incident to skilful bowling, may be
performed with certainty and precision.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascertained,
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is an elevation shewing my invention complete. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal
section of the cannon, and Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the cannon.
a is the
tube and b the breech. c is a spring which is compressed between the piston d and
the abutment c. f is a strap attached to the piston d at one end, the other end

page_text: being wound round the spindle g. This spindle is carried through the breech at h
where a handle or crank is fitted. are two bosses baving holes in their
peripheries, into which holes the triggers kk enter, and whereby they are held in
any desired position, when wound up. is a link attached to the muzzle, which
gives a "bias" or slightly inclined direction to the ball, either upwards; downwards,
to the right, or left, or otherwise. This link also imparts a rotative motion to the
ball, which is beneficial in bowling. Another arrangement for effecting the same
purpose is shewn in Fig. 4, in which m is a ring to which the two spring arms no
are fitted, and which arms may be turned in any suitable direction..
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
The general construction arrangement and combination of the several and
respective parts, together formning an improved bowling apparatus, for playing
cricket and other games, substantially as herein before described and shewn on the
drawings.