IMPROVEMENTS IN TABLES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Thomas Newnham, of the City of Bath,
Carriage Builder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TABLES OR
Sealed the 5th May 1868, and dated the 7th November 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Thomas Newnham
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th November 1867.
I, BENJAMIN THOMAS NEWNHAM, of the City of Bath, Carriage Builder,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TABLES OR APPARATUS TO BE USED IN PLAYING GAMES WITH BALLS," to be as
follows:-
The object of the improvements is the exercise of skill with the production
of amusement. A table with a raised rim, by preference cushioned, is formed
with a hole in one part of it or a series of holes, through which balls re-
bounding from the raised rim or otherwise may pass. Beneath the hole is a
raised surface which may be of a disc or other form adapted to cause balls
falling thereon to roll outwards. At a distance from the centre of this raised sur-
face there are a series of channels, into any one of which a ball passing through
the hole may roll, and as it passes therefrom it acts upon an arm or other
projection or surface to release or act upon an indicator in connection there-

page_text: with to indicate which channel the ball has passed into; or the balls in passing
from the hole may at once pass into distinct and separate channels, thence
the balls are received into a channel or gutter for re-use. The indications
may have numbers, letters, or other representations applied to them, and slide
or turn upon axes, or by spring action, or they may have other pieces to slide
or turn upon axes over, or otherwise move upon them, and the effect of the
action of the balls may be to bring these indications out of or into view. The
surface of the table near the hole may be inclined thereto, and over the hole
or holes may be suspended or supported on pillars or surfaces a small table or
receiver to act as as a pool or otherwise, whilst the number or order of the pillars
or other surfaces may be varied to increase or lessen the difficulty of the
players. The balls will be moved by a cue or otherwise. The balls may pass
into volute, spiral, or other regular or irregular channels with openings adapted
to admit of the balls passing therefrom, according to the degree of momentum
given to them, such openings being guarded or having indications to them as
may be desired. The balls may be directed from a central cushion or other-
wise to holes or channels at or near the outer edge of the upper table, and the
balls passing through these may by channels underneath be conducted to the
raised surface or direct to the outlet or indicating passages.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Benjamin Thomas Newnham in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 7th May 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BENJAMIN
THOMAS NEWNHAM, of the City of Bath, Carriage Builder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto I, the
said Benjamin Thomas Newnham, Her special licence that I, the said
Benjamin Thomas Newnham, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Benjamin Thomas Newnham, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN TABLES OR APPARATUS TO

page_text: BE USED IN PLAYING GAMES WITH BALLS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Benjamin Thomas Newnham, 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 Benjamin Thomas Newnham, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
The object of the improvements is the exercise of skill with the production
of amusement; but that the Invention may be fully understood I will by the
aid of the accompanying Drawings proceed to describe means pursued by me
in carrying the same into effect.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure shows a plan view; Figure 2 a horizontal section; Figure 3 a
longitudinal side view; Figure 4 a longitudinal section; Figures 5 and 6, two
opposite end views, and Figures 7 and 8, parts separately on a larger scale of
one arrangement of apparatus for carrying out my Invention. In each of
these views the same letters indicate corresponding parts wherever they
occur.
a is a table, which is by preference covered with cloth or other suitable
material, and it has a raised rim 6 all round it, which is cushioned at c simi-
larly to a bagatelle or a billiard table. At one end this table a is marked
with a baulk line a³, and also there is a spot mark a³ for the placing of a
particular ball according to one method of using the apparatus as hereafter
referred to. Towards the other end of the table there is a hole a¹ through it,
through which balls rebounding from the cushions or otherwise coming near
may fall, and to facilitate the balls going into the hole a when they approach
near it, the surrounding part of the table a near the hole a¹ inclines to that
hole. Balls passing through the hole a fall on to the raised surface d,
which is by preference of the form of a rather flat cone, or it may be of other
figure adapted to cause the balls falling on to its apex through the hole a¹ to
run down it, when they will each be received into one or other of the
channels e, e, leading to openings f, which when in condition for playing are
covered each by the lower end of a plate 9, each of which is supported so as
to be capable of turning on a pin g' as a hinge, and at its upper end each

page_text: plate 9 supports by hinge joint g³ a disc or other surface or indicator h, upon
which may be applied a figure, or an inscription or device. A ball in passing
through one of these openings f moves the lower end of a plate g, causing it
to displace the surface or indicator h carried thereby, and thus to indicate
where the ball has traversed. Balls having passed through the openings f,
and having acted on the plates 9 as stated, then pass into the surrounding
channel i, where by the inclination of the bottom of that channel they have a
tendency to run towards the openings therefrom j, one of which is formed on
each side of the apparatus for the introduction of the hands of the player to
take out the balls for re-use. Over the hole a there is a table or receiver k
shown separately in Figure 7, which is supported upon pillars 2, which may
be varied in number and relative position, such being formed to pass into.
surface
holes in the table or receiver k, and readily removeable. The upper
of the table k is recessed to serve as a pool or otherwise. The indications on
the indicators h may be numbers, letters, or other representations.
As an illustration of the use of the apparatus the following rules may be
followed. The balls are moved by "cue
as in bagatelle.
Rules for playing the canon game:-
"
"
or mace
"
1. Players draw labels from a set corresponding with characters on the
indicators h.
2. The owner of an indicator h nearest the left hand (as player faces the
board) plays first. The second player holding corresponding label to next
indicator h follows, and so on in succession round the board.
.8. The smaller the number playing the greater the number of indicators
held by each, or if preferred choice may be made of indicators, and remainder
treated as blanks.
4. Each player to have a certain number of counters.
5. To commence game each pays three to pool.
6. Each player takes possession of six balls and places colored ball on spot,
aiming first ball at same from behind baulk line.
7. After first all balls must be played against the cushions or canoned
before entering between the supports l, or they do not count.
8. An indicator h lowered by a canon off colored ball, with or without
cushing, entitles player to receive or pay double.
9. Any balls returning from behind baulk line to be removed from board.
10. Players lowering other indicators h to receive three' from owner of
indicator lowered.
h
11. Players lowering their own indicators / pay three to pool.
19 Failing to lower any indicator h pay six to pool.

page_text: 13. Lowering four indicators h wins game and takes pool.
14. Any player having had to pay an adversary twice upon a single hand
of six balls can immediately readjust the cap, and thus alter the play.
15. Any player may demand a fresh distribution of labels prior to com-
mencing a new game.
16. If few are playing, and each holds several labels, the number of balls
of arrangement of play is not altered.
.
17. Any ball played from baulk entering the cap and lowering indicator
without having first touched cushion, not to count.
Another, which I call "The Simple Game," may be followed thus:-
Rules the same as in the canon game, with the following exceptions:-
1. Any number of legs may be removed from cap or receiver k prior to
commencing game.
2. Canons not to count.
8. Owners of any indicators h lowered by colored ball, pay and receive
double.
4. Players are allowed to drive any balls under receiver or cap n lying out
of baulk if the moving ball is played from the cushion, but are not allowed to
force any ball but the colored one under cap or receiver without first cushing.
A simple game may also be played by removing cap or receiver h and
pillars altogether, and driving balls against cushions from between the thumb
and forefinger, thus dispensing with the cue.
Two or more holes a¹ may be applied to the table a, and in place of the
balls thence passing into radial grooves or channels e, they may pass into
volute, spiral, or other regular or irregular channels with openings adapted to
admit of the balls passing therefrom according to the degree of momentum
given to them, such openings being guarded or having indications to them as
may
be desired. The balls may also be directed from a central cushion or
otherwise to holes or channels at or near the outer edge of the table a, and
the balls passing through these may, by channels. underneath, be conducted to
the raised surface, or direct to the outlet or indicating passages..
Figure 9 shows a plan view; Figure 10, an internal view; Figure 11, à
transverse section; Figure. 12, an end view, and Figures 18 and 14, detail
views of a modification of the apparatus. In this case the balls as they pass
through any one of the holes A¹ of the table A will be received into one of
the channels. B, with a tendency to roll in a zig zag, or it may be other
direction, to a receiving channel C. The table A is provided. also with a
number of openings A², which are formed in positions over the channels B.
This table A is also provided with other openings A³, which are formed in

page_text: .
positions over other or intermediate channels D between the channels B from
the holes A'. These openings A3 and A³ are adapted to receive the lower
ends or stems of plates E, the upper portion E¹ of each of which is hinged to
the lower part E, and, although, the parts are hinged together the extent of
motion one on the other is limited, and when they are placed in the openings
A and As for play the upper portion is inclined, so that the effect of the
contact of a ball on a stem E in rolling down a channel B will be to cause
such upper portion to tilt in the opposite direction, and thereby indicate that
it has been operated upon. These upper portions E' may have various
indications or representations applied on them. The lines A* may be used, if
desired, to indicate to some extent the direction of the underneath channels B.
In playing with this apparatus the aim will be to cause the balls to hit or
to miss, as the case may be, a certain indication, and the object of being able
to place the stems of the indications in holes leading to one of the channels B,
where it would be acted upon by a ball, or in one of the boles over an inter-
mediate space, where the ball would miss it, is to add to the intricacy of the
play. The table A and its parts is shown inclined, but in some cases the
upper surface A may be formed to lie horizontally, but in such case the
table A will, as in the previous Figures, be formed with a cushioned rim round
it, and the balls may be driven direct to the holes A¹ by cues, or by otherwise
being caused to rebound from the cushions, chance as to which of the
holes A they pass into, or whether into any of them.
By way of illustration the following rules may be adopted, and in the
use of them I will suppose that numbers are the indications given on the
parts E¹_
1. Any number of players may play at this game.
2. A captain of game shall be appointed, who shall name the first player
to dress or set the indications E in places on the board, and who shall draw
from a bag or other receptacle as many indicators as may be required for the
game, or for the number of players.
8. The players so named shall then dress the board by placing the indi-
cators drawn into holes in the table A in such positions as he may consider
safe from the effect of the players' balls, the captain seeing that the board
dresser does not spend more than one minute or such other time as may be
determined over this operation.
4. The player sitting next the board dresser on his left shall then play any
number, say, 3 balls, by placing them in any of the 8 holes, and shall receive
from board dresser a number of counters corresponding with the number
marked upon the indicators acted upon, or failing to operate on any indicator

page_text: he pays 6 counters to the board dresser each time, all players following in
succession from left to right of board dresser.
.
5. Any player being unsuccessful with two balls may alter the position of
any indicator before playing his third ball.
6. The board dresser is allowed to alter the position of any indicator after
any player has made two successful strokes out of three.
7. The board dresser does not play.
8. All the players having played 3 balls each the game is finished, and the
next person on the left dresses the board, or is entitled to sell his "dress" to
the player next him on his left.
9. Before commencing a new game any player may demand an inspection
of the lower table with its channels B.
Another game may be played by players paying 12 counters each to pool,
and drawing indicators from a bag, the drawer of highest number commencing
the game, the captain having dressed the board. Each player to play one
ball, and if lowering an indicator he alters the position of same before the
next player goes on. Failing to lower an indicator he pays 6 counters to
pool. The number on each indicator is scored to the players lowering same,
and the first who scores 50 or 100, as may be agreed upon, takes two-thirds
of pool, and the second to score that number the remainder of pool.
The rules as herein given are only intended to serve as illustrations of the
use of the apparatus, and they may be variously modified.
Having thus described my Invention, and means which I adopt in carrying
the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself
to the precise arrangements shown and described, as it will be evident that
many variations may be made in the same and in the methods of using
without departing from the peculiar character of the Invention; but what I
do claim is the arranging tables or apparatus to be used in playing games with
balls, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Thomas Newnham, have here
unto set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
BENJAMIN THOS. NEWNHAM. (L.S.)