IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SCORING THE GAME OF BILLIARDS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Walton, of Denton, in the County of Lancaster,
Card Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
SCORING THE GAME OF BILLIARDS."
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Walton at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st February 1877.
WILLIAM WALTON, of Denton, in the County of Lancaster, Card Manufacturer
'IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SCORING THE GAME OF BILLIARDS"
My Invention consists in maiking numcials, say from 1 to 50, or other number,
on an endless belt or band passing around diums, and by making an aperture in a
second endless belt also passing around diums, the second belt covering the first,
the aperture is brought in succession over the numerals, thereby only exposing to
view the numeral representing the state of the game The two diving drums of
each pair of belts are connected by toothed wheels, by this means the belts are
moved in opposite duections, and comparatively large numerals can be used in a
short apparatus.
It is evident that each ball, plain and spot, must have a separate pan of belts,
and the driving drum of each pair is duiven by a ratchet wheel and catch lever oi
other equivalents
This marking apparatus may be modified by making two apertures in a casing,
and by bringing the numerals, which are marked on bands passing around diums,
in succession opposite the apertures.
Another part of my Invention consists in making one row of numerals answer
for both spot and plain pointers, one pointing upwards and the other downwards.
The pointers are moved along the board by screws or other equivalents, which are
acted upon from one end of the board by ratchet wheels and clicks, or otherwise
Each click indicates one figure, and as each click can be made to produce a different
sound from the other the players can tell without looking if the scoic is being
properly registered; or a similar apparatus may be used with two rows of
numerals
The single row of numerals can be marked on a dial, and the pointers for the
spot and plain balls are moved for waid, to indicate their respective score, by two

page_text: 1atchet wheels and two catch levers, or other equivalents One ratchet wheel 18
fixed to a solid axle for one pointer, and the other ratchet wheel for the other
pointer is fixed on a hollow axle, by this means cach pointer can be moved
independently of the other
These markers may be actuated by hand, as above described, or by connecting
wues of the ordinary construction actuated from the table
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Walton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 31st July
1877
WILLIAM WALTON, of Denton, in the County of Lancaster, Card Manufacturer
"IMPROVEVENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SCORING THE GAME OF BILLIARDS"
Fig 1 is an elevation, Fig 2, a plan, and Fig 3, an end view of the improved
apparatus for scoung the game of billiards, foining the first part of Invention
my
a is an endless belt or band passing around the drums b and c, the axles of which
are supported in a case, on the belt a are marked numicials, say from 1 to 50, or
other number d is a second belt passing around the diums e and f, the second belt
covering the first, in the second bult dis an aperture which is brought in succession
over the numerals on the belt a, thereby only exposing to view the numeral
representing the state of the game The two diving druins of each pair of belts
ale connected by toothed wheels, as shewn in Fig 1, by this means the belts are
moved in opposite duections, and comparatively large numcials can be used in a
shoit apparatus
It is evident that for each ball, plan and spot, a separate pair of balts must be
used, as shewn in Fig 1, and the diving dium of each pair may be driven by hand,
or by a ratchet wheel and catch level h, and by a pan of bevel wheels, or other
equivalents The catch lever h is mounted loose on the axle of the ratchet wheel y,
and after every depression of the lever to score a point it is raised again by the
the range of the catch lever is limited by stops To the axle of each
sping,
dium is fixed a ratchet wheel with a retaining catch, the object of which is to
prevent the endless belt & being moved in the wrong duection These catches are
o may be made of different inetals or materials to produce different sounds, so
that the players can tell without looking if the score is being properly registered
Fig is a fiont view and Fig 5 a side view of a modification of my improved
marking apparatus In this arrangement two apertures are made in the and
casing,
the numerals which are marked on belts passing around drums are brought in
succession opposite the apertures The diving drum of each belt is duiven by a
catch lever and ratchet wheel, as above described, or in any other convenient
manner
2
Another part of my Invention consists in making one row of numerals answer
for both spot and plain balls, one pointer pointing upwards and the otha downwards,
as shewn in elevation in Fig 6, and in end view in Fig 7 The pointers are moved
along the board on which the numerals are marked by the screws and , or other
equivalents, which are acted upon from one end of the board by latchct wheels and
catches, as above described, oi by hand, or other wise, and each sciew is provided
with a ratchet wheel and retaining catch, in the manner and for the purposes
described in reference to Figs 1, 2, and 3 A similar apparatus to that shewn in
Figs 6 and 7 may be used with two rows of numerals
The single row of numerals can be marked on a dial, as shewn in Figs 8 and 0,
and the pointers for the spot and plain balls are moved forward to indicate then
respective score by two ratchet wheels and two catch levers, or other equivalents, as
shewn in Fig 3. One ratchet wheel is fixed to a solid axle for one pointer, and the

page_text: other ratchet wheel for the other pointer is fixed ou a hollow axle, by this means
cach pointer can be moved independently of the other
The inaikers above described may be actuated by hand, or by connecting wires of
the ordinary construction actuated from the table
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described several convenient
modes of canying the same into operation, I wish it to be understood that I do not
intend to limit myself to the details given, and that I claim,—
Fust The combination of two paus of endless belts, on one of each of which the
numerals are marked, and in the other is an aperture to indicate the score, as shewn
and described in reference to Figs 1, 2, and 3
Secondly The combination of two endless belts, on which the numerals are
maiked, with a case in which are apertures to indicate the scores, as shewn and
described in reference to Figs 4 and 5.
Thirdly. Making one 10w of numerals answer for the two pointers, as shewn and
described in reference to Figs 6 and 7
Fourthly Traversing the pointers by means of screws, as shewn and described in
reference to Figs 6 and 7
Fifthly The dial with two pointers and one set of numerals for indicating the
scores, as shewn and described in reference to Figs 8 and 9
And, Lastly Making the catches or clicks of billiard markers to produce each a
different sound, for the purpose described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Walton, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of July, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-seven.
WILLIAM WALTON. (LS)