Improvements in or connected with Toy Bricks for Teaching Multiplication.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Toy Bricks for Teaching
Multiplication.
SIDNEY BARWISE, Cumber Hill, Duffield, Derbyshire, Doctor of Medicine, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists of a number (generally 144) of children's wooden or
other bricks, and a box or tray divided into a like number of compartments.
The object of my invention, is to teach children the multiplication table.
Each brick has a number printed upon it. A series is numbered
in multiples of 2, thus 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 etc. Another series in multiples of 3, thus
3, 6, 9, 12 etc. A third in multiples of 4, a fourth in multiples of 5 and so on
with multiples of 6, 7, 8, 9 etc.
The multiplication table is taught by causing the children to arrange the
bricks, which are first indiscriminately mixed, so that the multiples of 2 are in a
row in arithmetical progression multiples of 3 are in a second row also in pro-
gression multiples of 4 in the next row in the same order and so on with the
multiples of 5, 6, and the other numbers; so that the bricks when filled into the
compartments of the tray or box are arranged as a condensed multiplication table.
If it is desired the bricks may be grooved or shaped so that each one will only
fit in its proper compartment.
The bricks when arranged in their compartments would be as sketched below.

page_text: Improvements in or connected with Toy Bricks for Teaching
Multiplication..
SIDNEY BARWISE, Cumber Hill, Duffield, Derby, Physician and Doctor of
Medicine 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in or connected with toy bricks for
teaching multiplication, and consists in the employment and arrangement of
such bricks with a prepared board having geometrically arranged recesses to
receive such bricks, all as hereinafter explained.
In order to more clearly explain this my invention, I have appended hereunto
an illustrative drawing, in which
Fig. 1, is a plan view of the board upon which the bricks are to be placed.
Fig. 2, is a sectional view of Fig. 1, upon line A-B showing depth of re-
cesses, and one of the bricks placed in its recess.
Reference numbers are made on the drawing to facilitate explanation.
A, is the board, which is shown as having 132 recesses B, that is, the multiple
of 12 by 11, there being 12 divisions in the horizontal and 11 divisions in the
vertical direction. These divisions are numerically marked off horizontally on
line C, and again vertically on line D. Any other multiples may be adopted.
E are bricks of which there are a number equal to the recesses, that is, 132
in the present case, and upon each of these is marked a multiple number, so that
when all the bricks are properly placed in position, they shall agree with their
respective multipliers, as for instance, the brick having the number 21 upon it
may be placed in either of the positions marked on the drawing, being the multiple
position of 3 by 7, or of 7 by 3.
Again by way of another illustration: -The number 48, would require 4 bricks,
inasmuch as it contains the multiples of 6 by 8, 8 by 6, 12 by 4, and 4 by 12.
Its educational and amusement use is suggested in perceiving how readily the
two or more multiples of the number upon any brick selected are mentally arrived
at, and the bricks placed in their respective positions. Also one half of the
bricks are preferably made of a different colour to the other half, so that two
operators may contest which shall first place his set in position. Other variations
by way of amusement may arise according to fancy.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The apparatus for teaching multiplication, comprising the board A, with
multiple divisions, and multiple numbered bricks, combined and arranged in
the manner set forth and shown.
Dated this 5th day of September 1899.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicant's Agent, 158, Edmund Street, Birmingham.