NEW OR IMPROVED 77 OUTDOOK UK INDOOR GAMEO, AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITA,
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Forster Tomkins, of Stockwell, in
the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "NEW OR IMPROVED
77
OUTDOOK
UK INDOOR GAMEO, AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITA,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Forster
Tomkins at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 7th September 1875.
•
I, EDWARD FORSTER TOMKINS, of Stockwell, in the County of
Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "New
OR IMPROVED OUTDOOR OR INDOOR GAMES, AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH,”
to be as follows:-
·
This Invention, which constitutes a new and interesting series of
games suitable for either outdoor or indoor amusement, is of a character
somewhat resembling those games known as croquet or bagatelle, and
consists in so directing the movements of certain balls by means of
strikers as to cause the said balls to perform certain conditions and pass
through or enter certain goals, all as hereafter described.

page_text: wreath of red roses round the circumference.
On one side of No. 1 ball
the figure 1 is printed or otherwise attached, and on ball No. 5 the
figure 5 in a similar way. On the opposite side of both balls the
letter (I) is marked, meaning Lancaster or Lancastrian. Balls No. 2
and 6 bear a corresponding wreath of white roses. On ball No. 2 there
is the figure 2 and on ball No. 6 the Figure 6, and on the opposite side of
both balls the letter (Y), meaning York. Balls No. 3 and 7 each have
a wreath of pink roses round the circumference.. On ball No. 3 there
is the figure 3, on ball No. 7 the figure 7,' and on opposite side of both
balls the letter L. Balls No. 4 and 8 carry similar wreaths of yellow
On ball No. 4 there is the figure 4, on ball No. 8 the figure 8,-
and on opposite side of both balls the letter Y.
roses.
The ball which I call the crown is marked in some cases with as
many as six crowns, in other casès with a less number. The crowns are
placed on the circumference of the ball, and are connected by cordons
or wreaths of roses, red, white, pink, and yellow.
r
"
It being against the rules of the games to touch the balls with the
hand or foot, strikers are provided, preferably made in the shape of a
battle axe, by which the balls or roses are impelled against one
another or against the "crown," as may be desired, it being, however,
understood that it is contrary to the rules of the games to touch the
crown " with a battle axe or striker.
$6
-
Hoops, goals, or castles_are_also. arranged and provided with a dis-
tinguishing mark or colour, by flag or otherwise, similar to the balls or
Tose, a bell-being-suspended-therein-so-as-to-be-struck-and-sounded-
by a ball or "rose" passing through the said hoops or goal. In some
cases the bells may be dispensed with.
The outdoor games I have divided into four arrangements, to each of
which I have given a distinguishing title.

page_text: "
""
$
"
provided with a goal or starting point, a striker or battle axe, and a ball
or rose. The " crown "is placed at a point equidistant from all the
goals, say in the centre, and it is the object of each player to endeavour
to cause the " crown " to sound the bell of his own (the player's) goal
by striking or impelling his " rose” against the crown so as to take
it away from the others and drive it through his hoop or goal.
melée which ensues around, the "crown" partakes of the excitement
of football without its danger, and the player who succeeds in
'cannoning" the "crown" through his goal becomes the winner of
the game.
"
"E
"
"
"
The
Under the second arrangement, which I call "the rose show, or the
race for the prize," the object simply is (as in the game of "squails")
to get as near as possible to the crown, at the same time removing the
opponent's "roses," and where the game is played by sides, aiming to
shift or
cannon the crown near to the " roses" of the player's
own side. No goals or hoops are necessary in playing this game, but an
instrument known as a "swoggle," and which I term mace or sceptre,
and used in the game of "squails," is employed for deciding whether
the balls are sufficiently near the crown to count in case of. dispute.
"
The third form of outdoor game, which I term "a la bagatelle," is
played by striking a certain number. of balls or "roses" against other
balls or
roses so as to "cannon "the latter through goals or hoops
placed in juxtaposition thereto, and to strike the bells suspended
therefrom.
"
In the fourth arrangement, entitled "the attack on the fort, or odds
and evens," one party of " roses have to defend the central fort or
goal, and prevent the others from rolling the "crown" into it, striking
the bell, and so winning the game. The party defending the fort or
goal may take the other roses prisoners by passing them through the
said fort or goal and ringing the bell, but on the other hand the
attacking party may do likewise with the defenders by "cannoning"
them through their own goals and ringing the bell.
"
If all the " roses are reduced to one on each side (by taking
prisoners) it is a drawn game.
.
The indoor games are played in a manner similar to the outdoor or
garden games, the only difference being that to prevent the balls from
rolling over the edge of the table a fence is provided, which consists of
.

page_text: four or any other number of pillars situate round or at each of the
corners of the table, a band of wood, tape, papier mache, or other
material being. stretched between the said pillars so as to form a cordon
all round. Within this cordon tents provided with bells and flags are
arranged; instead of goals and smaller "
and 5
strikers or "battle axes are employed.
"
roses
"
crowns
"
In some cases I arrange apparatus whereby when the bell of a goal
or fort has been struck_by_a.rose.or.crown.the..flag-suspended.above-the
same falls and another flag is hoisted. This may be done in the case of
the hoops by a weighted disc having a detent, which is released or set 1
free by tlie action of the striking of the bell. Or a quadruple action
may be. produced by the employment of a detent with gumball or.
universal joint action.
I employ a marker, which also serves as a measurer. I prefer to
make it circular or square, and of a truncated conc form, with four 1
sides or divisions differently coloured, and each marked or divided off
similarly to a whist marker. In order to serve as a measurer it is
"
divided in two by a line midways. The summit and other parts of it
may be ornamented so as to resemble a mace or sceptre.

page_text: should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during 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 "NEW OR IMPROVED INDOOR OR OUTDOOR
GAMES, AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Edward Forster Tomkins, 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 Edward Forster Tomkins, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, that
is to say :-
This Invention, which constitutes a new and interesting series of
games suitable for either indoor or outdoor amusement, is of a character
somewhat resembling those games known as croquet or bagatelle, and
consists in so directing the movements of certain balls by means of
strikers or mallets as to cause the said balls to perform certain con-
ditions and pass through or enter certain goals, all as herein-after
described and particularly ascertained with reference to the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon.
To the collective series of games I have given the title of "The Wars
of the Roses," and the implements employed consist of an even number
of balls (say 8), each pair being of different colours, for example, red,
white, pink, and yellow, and each ball is numbered progressively 1, 2, 3,
4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Half of the balls (say those distinguished by the odd
numbers 1, 3, 5, and 7) are also marked in any suitable manner with
5 the letter L, meaning Lancaster or Lancastrian, while the even numbers
2, 4, 6, and 8 are similarly marked by the letter Y, meaning York, as
shewn at Figures 1 and 2, which are views of balls (or, as I term them,

page_text: "
"
"
"roses") marked with letters and figures in the manner described. As
has been already observed, these balls or roses are also distinguished
by badges or colours, thus numbers 1 and 5 may have a wreath of red
roses printed or otherwise depicted around their circumferences, or the
ball or $6 rose may be entirely coloured red, while numbers 3 and 7
may be similarly distinguished by a pink wreath of roses or coat or
stain of pink colouring. The remaining pairs (numbers 2, 6, and 4, 8,)
are treated in the same manner, the former pair being marked with
white and the latter with yellow_rose_wreaths.or.coats-of-colour..
Figure 3 illustrates an odd ball or "jack," which I call the " crown,"
and which is marked at different parts of its circumference by the figure
of a crown, as shewn in the Drawings. The crowns may if desired be
connected by means of cordons or wreaths of red, white, pink, and
" of a
yellow roses, but it is desirable to make the body of the " crown
blue colour, so as to make it readily distinguishable from the "roses."
"
"
It being against the rules of the games not to touch the balls with the
hand or foot, strikers are provided (preferably made so as to resemble a
battle axe in shape) by which the balls or roses are impelled against
one another or against the ".crown," as may be desired, it being however
understood that it is contrary to the rules of the games to touch the
crown with a "battle axe" or striker.
66
"
Figure 4 is a view of a suitable "battle axe or striker, the head A
of which is shaped as shewn, the pointed apex B at the upper part being
provided to manipulate the balls or roses "when in such a position
that they cannot be struck with the other end C; when the point B is
-employed to push or strike, the battle axe or striker is poised or pivoted
upon the circumference of the end-O of the head A.
زر
Figure 5 is a front elevation, and Figure 6 a vertical section of one
of the species of goal or "tent" employed for the purposes
of my
Invention. It consists of a circular (or it may be square)
" tcnt," con-
structed of any suitable material, and having an opening in the side_of_
-sufficient capacity_to_admit-easily-the-balls employed in the game: A
bell E is suspended in the interior at such a height as to admit of being
struck and sounded by any ball or rose that may effect an entrance, and
furthermore, the top of the tent is provided with a miniature flagstaff F,
to which is affixed a bannerct or pennon bearing the distinctive badge
of the party holding the goal or tent. To prevent the holder of the tent
"

page_text: or goal from mistaking or losing sight of the same, a number corre-
sponding to that upon the ball or "rose" employed is suspended upon
the front of the tent or goal, as shown at. Figure 5.
Instead of the tent
shewn and described above, a hoop similar to that employed in croquet
may be used as a goal, and in some instances the bell may be dispensed
shewn and described above, a hoop similar to that employed in croquet
may be used as a goal, and in some instances the bell may be dispensed
with.
In certain of the series of games herein-after more fully described it
is necessary to employ a central castle, goal, or fort, which I have illus-
trated at Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the Drawings. It consists mainly of
a covered enclosure capable of being made of a square or triangular
shape at pleasure. The pieces G composing the sides have their ends
checked so as to lap over one another, and these ends and the superposed
roof piece H arc perforated in line with each other so as to admit
tongues or bars I, whereby the edifice is held together.
66
"
When it is desired to change the goal from a square to a triangular
form, two of the pins or bars I are withdrawn and one of the sides G
removed, while in lieu of the square roof shewn at Figure 9 the
triangular form shewn at Figure 10 is substituted. The goal or fort is
thus easily transformable from a square to a triangular shape, or vice
versa, according to the exigencies of the game or number of players.
Each of the sides G of the fort has an opening or port for the admission
of the balls, and a number corresponding to that of the defender's ball
or rosc is hung above it, as shewn at Figure 8. In the centre of the
interior a bell E is suspended by means of the elastic suspensor J passing
around a pulley on the bar K. The bar K to which the bell is attached
is furnished at its upper end with a hemispherical or other suitably
shaped knob, which is held by the elasticity of the suspensor J against
the periphery of a semi-disc L. The disc L is fixed to a shaft pivoted
upon centres so as to admit of turning easily, and a weight M is applied
to the disc in the position shewn at Figure 7. Flagstaffs N are also
fixed to the disc L at right angles to each other, and badges or pennons
are attached to them as shewn. This arrangement is contained in a
tower or turret placed on the roof, and its purpose is to provide an
automatic means of signalling that the fort has been taken by the
attacking party, since it will be easily understood that when a ball
enters the fort and strikes the bell E the knob on the bar K is knocked
aside and the weighted disc L relieved from its holding pressure and

page_text: allowed to turn on its axis in obedience to the weight M, thus lowering
one standard and raising another.
Figures 11, 12, 13, and 14 represent the markers employed in these
games, each having a distinct badge and colour of its own; thus the
marker shewn at Figure 11 is coloured red, that at Figure 12 white, at
Figure 13 pink, and at Figure 14 yellow. A dial face is printed at each
end of each marker, and a pointer o is also provided to indicate units on
dial and tons on the othe

page_text: The third form of outdoor game, which I term a "la bagatelle," is
played by striking a certain number of balls or "roses" against other
balls or "roses," or against the "crown," so as to cannon them into the
"castle," or through goals, "tents," or hoops placed in juxtaposition
thereto, and to strike the bells suspended therefrom.
26
In the fourth arrangement, entitled "the attack on the fort, or odds
and evens," and illustrated at Figure 16 of the Drawings, one party of
roses" have to defend the central fort or goal and prevent the others
from rolling the "crown" into it, striking the bell, and so winning the
game. The party defending the central fort or goal may win the game
by cannoning the "crown" into or through any of the goals or “tents,”
or they may take the other "roses" prisoners by passing them through
the said fort or goal and ringing the bell, but on the other hand the
attacking party may do likewise with the defenders by cannoning them
through their own goals and ringing the bell. If all the " roses are
reduced to one on each side (by taking prisoners) it is a drawn
game.
"
The indoor games are played in a manner similar to the outdoor
or garden games, the only difference being that to prevent the balls from
rolling over the edge of the table a fence is provided, which consists of
four or any other number of pillars or clamps situated round or at each
corner of the table, a band of wood, tape, papier maché, or other
material being stretched between the said pillars so as to form a cordon
all round.
Having now described and ascertained the substance of my said
Invention and the modes of carrying the same into effect, I would
observe in conclusion that without limiting myself to the exact details
shewn by the accompanying Drawings, what I desire to claim as the
Invention secured to me by these Letters Patent is,―
First. The employment of balls or "roses," and "crowns," strikers,
or "battle axes," goals or "tents," measures and markers, distinguished,
coloured, and constructed as and for the purposes herein-before described
and shewn.
Second. The arrangement of tumbling mechanism employed in the
central goal or fort to raise and lower the flags or pennons, and con-
sisting of a weighted disc and attachments, all substantially as herein-
before described and shewn.

page_text: Third. The several games herein-before enumerated and described, or
any mere modification of the same.
in
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Forster Tomkins, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of March,
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
six.