An Improved Game.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Game.
I ALFRED ('OLLIER of No. 86 Victoria Park Road in the County of London
Game Board Manufacturer 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 relates to a game which I call "The Ascent of the Great Tower" in
which a game board made of card board or other substance or material whereon is
painted printed or otherwise impressed the design of an Eiffel Tower and on each side
are 3 ladders containing numbers at each stave of the ladders in the manner shewn in
the drawing apponded the first ladder on either side containing the numbers from 0 to 20
inclusive and the second ladder on either side containing the numbers from 1 to 15
inclusive and the third ladder on either side containing the numbers from 1 to 50
inclusive. At the top of each ladder is a platform with the numbers 20, 15 and 50
respectively. Four miniature figures represonting an English and a French officer
and their respective wives are used in playing the game which may he either male of
wood ivory or other substance or material and of any shape or size.
The board or other material or surface on which the game is played may be
embellished in any way to render it pleasing to the eye or otherwise attractive.
The respective opponents engaged in playing the game must conform to certain
rules which are as follows:-
RULES.
1. The game is supposed to illustrate a wager made between an English officer and
his wife on the one side and a French officer and his wife on the other the ultimate
object being as to which couple should reach the top platform first.
2. It may he played with two or four persons.
3. When played with four :-Two couples select partners as in "whist" and sit
round the board in like manner.
4. This question having once been settled each player takos his or her place at the
base of the tower on the spots marked "A" and the game begins, the players throwing
the dice in turn from left to right and ascending by the steps in proportion to the
numbers thrown.
5. No opponent (lady or gentleman) is allowed to occupy the same level and
should one of the players throw a number that would place him on the same lino as
his or her opponent he or she must pay a fine and remain as before, thereby losing a
move.
6. When approaching either one of the platforms marked B C and D the plaver
must throw exactly the number required or go back one step for every number over
and above that required to reach the platform in question and when by doing so the
said player comes into contact with either or both his opponents (ie. on the same
number) he or she the last player must pay a fine and further descend to the extent
of the number thrown.
7. Each player when reaching the first and second platform marked respectively
B and C is supposed to rest for the purpose of taking refreshments and will therefore
be required to miss one turn before throwing again.
8. It must be understood that the partners are supposed to work jointly for the
success of the game and are therefore expected to help each other; for instance,
should the lady get to the first or any of the other platforms before her husband she
(after resting as prescribed in rule 7) may proceed but should the gentleman be ahead
he must not only stay for refreshments but must also wait for his wife.

page_text: 9. Should the two ladies or the two gentlemen meet on the same platform they may
so remain as if engaged in conversation but should one of the gentlemen meet his
opponent's wife (or the lady meet her opponent's husband) on the same platform
when not in the company of his or her own partner he or she so arriving must pay a
double fine and go back to the platform below, or failing that to the base.
10. When however either of the partners arrive at the top platform and are allowed
to remain there (sco rule 6) it becomes the duty of the one who has so far succeeded
to help the other and the game proceods as before each player still throwing in turn
except that the one who is already "home" throws to help his partner to reich the
top platform.
11. When only two players are engaged in the game the same rules apply with
the exception that each player takes a lady and gentleman; and two dice, rist.-one
red and one white are used to represent the respective numbers thrown by each
partner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what 1
claim is :-
The foregoing gama whorein miniature figures representing an English officer and
his wife and a French officer and his wife or other objects are moved from stave to
stave of the three ladders with certain rests or platforms painted or printed on a
surface of paper paste board wood or other suitable material the said mininture figures
being moved and placed in accordance with a series of rules all prepared arranged
and used substantially as herein before described and as illustrated by the accom-
panying drawings.
Dated this 28th day of April 1890.
ALFRED COLLIER.