A New or Improved Game.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 29th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 13th Oct.,
1894
A New or Improved Game.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM RUSSELL, of 5 Manor Terrace, Wallington, in the
County of Surrey, General Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object a new or improved game combining the elements
of chance and skill to be played by two or more persons.
When playing my improved game I use a board a number of cards and a
teetotum or top.
The board is preferably an oblong one in shape and is provided at one end
with hinged legs or other means whereby it may be placed in an inclined position.
On the surface of this board are formed or secured rows of ribs or projections
all arranged parallel to one another and to the sides of the board which together
with the ends thereof are raised.
Between each pair of these ribs or projections which are arranged at equal
distances apart is placed a card either of the ordinary playing card type, or bearing
a name, number, letter or the like on one or both of its sides.
In playing the game in the case where ordinary playing cards are used the first
player sets the teetotum spinning on the highest end of the board so that it will run
down the inclined plane and displace one or more of the cards.
The first player should he be successful in displacing one or more cards with the
teetotum, then challenges the next player to draw a card from a reserved pack to
beat one of the cards he may select which the teetotum displaced.
Should the second player draw a card which is higher in value than the one he
selected to play against, and which had been driven out by the teetotum, the trick
is his unless the third or fourth selects to play against the higher card drawn by
the second player and beats it. The third and fourth players need not however
play against the card drawn by the second player but may play against another
card driven out by the tectotum at their option. After all the other players have
drawn cards, or refused, from the reserved pack, those expelled by the teetotum
and not beaten remain in the possession of the first player and counts as tricks.
The cards drawn by the other players which are not higher in value to those
against which they were drawn must be kept by them and utilized later on in the
game to take tricks instead of drawing from the pack if possible.
Each player spins the teetotum in turn and after each spinning the contest as
to who takes the trick or tricks is the same as in the case of the first player as
described, the winner being he having the most tricks when all the cards have been
removed from the board deducting those drawn too low to cover a trick and not
disposed of during the game.
Instead of employing playing cards it will be perfectly understood that other
cards may be used such as for instance cards bearing letters, words, numbers, or
the like on their faces the rules of the game being regulated accordingly but in all
cases the board, arrangement of the cards, and the uses of the teetotum being
the same.
L
Dreamba 1902
"
CASTLE SMITH,
Invention" Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: от прroveu таше.
FREDERICK WILLIAM RUSSELL 5 Manor Terrace Manor Road Wallington
Surrey Gentleman 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 :-
My invention consists of a new or improved game played with cards bearing on
the face letters, figures, animals, birds, or any device, and placed on a plane or
board constructed of wood cardboard or other suitable material between horizontal
ribs or narrow pieces forming divisions or receptacles the-width to receive the cards,
these ribs to be fixed across the board in rows which are regulated in number
according to the size of the board, allowing equal distances between each row so
that the cards have room to lie free from the divisions when they are pushed out.
The said plane. or board is to be elevated at the upper end by the use of short
legs constructed of wire or wood hinged or fixed or knobs so as to put the board at
a slope.
The use of a tectotum or top being required to be spun from the raised end of
the inclined board and allowed to travel at liberty down it, when the tectotum or
top will dislodge or drive out one or more of the cards placed between the divisions
as before mentioned.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascertained
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings in which letters of reference.
indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is a full view of the plane or board, which I construct in wood, card-
board, metal or other suitable material. The plane or board A has a flange B, all
round about one inch or less high to prevent the teetotum or top running off.
C shows the division ribs formed by pieces of wood or other suitable material
about three eights of an inch square by about two inches long in row across
the board A. fixed horizontally to allow the cards being placed between them.
Fig. 2 illustrates the board A with the teetotum or top D travelling down its
surface after being spun at the upper end of the board or plane A. and shows one or
more of the cards E displaced, also at F is shown the legs by which the board is
raised.
To play the game with ordinary playing cards. A card is put in each division
on the board A from a pack. The players spin the teetotum or top D in turn to
drive out one or more of the cards E, and cards so driven out remain on the
board A, then the players in turn can if each likes draw a card from an extra pack
of cards put aside for the purpose and, after stating which of the cards driven out
by the last spin and lying upon the board A is selected to beat, and should it
prove a higher card in value places it upon the card it is drawn against on the
board A. The cards E are taken from the board A, by the players gaining them
in the way hereinbefore described, and all cards left on the board A not covered by
another card of superior value, the spinner of the teetotum or top D takes, but in
the event of any player. drawing from the surplus pack of cards, a card of less
value than that of any driven out on the board A, such player has to keep the card,
and endeavour to dispose of it during the progress of the game as the turns come
round, instead of drawing from the surplus pack of cards as before described. The
vacancies arising by the displacement of the cards E is to be replenished from
time to time until the pack of cards is used up, then the game proceeds until all the
cards E are disposed of from the board A. At the end of the game each player
counts the cards taken, after deducting those on hand drawn from the surplus pack
of cards, as before described, and has failed to get rid of during the progress of

page_text: the game. The player who secures the highest number of cards, after deducting
as hereinbefore described, is the winner.
When letters are substituted for ordinary playing cards, the same process is
continued in the use of the teetotum or top D substantially to drive out the cards E
as hereinbefore described from the divisions on the board A. The round of players
spin in turn the teetotum or top D, and the cards E which are driven out each
time, is taken by the operator. The vacancies in the divisions on the board A
are filled up by a further supply of cards, vowels and consonants as the game
proceeds, so that a number of words can be made from the letters secured by
each player.
The quantity of cards used is regulated according to the number of players,
and is at the players' discretion to arrange and settle.
The board A eventually has to be cleared by the teetotum or top D as herein-
before described. The players after the cards E are all driven out of the
divisions on the board A endeavour in a given space of time to write down as
many words as possible from the letters cach player has secured, and the player
who makes the most words is the winner.
When figures are substituted for letters the game is played the same as with
letters; card's bearing any numbers on their face, are placed in the divisions on the
board A and driven out by the teetotum or top D as herein before described, and
the vacancies which occur from time to time by the driving out of cards E, from
the divisions on the board A, are filled up by extra numbered cards ad libitum, so
long as the players care to go on, when eventually the board A must be cleared
by the spinning of the tectotum or. top D. Then the cards E, secured by cach
player during the game are added up together and the player who can make the
highest total of figures is the winner.
To play the game by substitution of cards bearing on the face pictures of
animals, birds, or other device, the cards E are placed within the divisions C
as in each of the before mentioned arrangements, also a description of each
animal, bird, or other device is written or printed, upon duplicate cards and
distributed in equal numbers to each player. The teetotum or top D is spun as
hereinbefore described and the illustrated cards which are driven out from time
to time is claimed by the player holding the written duplicate of such illustration
as before mentioned, and the player who disposes of his last duplicate card, first, is
the winner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
1. In apparatus for the purpose aforesaid the use of an inclined board or plane
with divisions or ribs upon it as herein before described and illustrated in Fig. 1 of
the drawings.
2. In apparatus for the purpose aforesaid the use of a teetotum or top operating
as hereinbefore described and shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.
3. The general arrangement together forming my invention of a new or improved
game, as herein before described and shown on the drawings.
Dated this Twenty-ninth day of August 1894.
F. W. RUSSELL,
Applicant.