IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BILLIARD TABLES
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Victor Blumberg, of Bloomfield Lodge, Notting Hill,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BILLIARD TABLES."
Sealed the 4th December 1857, and dated the 4th June 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said. Victor Blumberg at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th June 1857.1
I, VICTOR BLUMBERG, of Bloomfield Lodge, Notting Hill, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentlemen, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BILLIARD TABLES," to be as
follows:-
I propose constructing a billiard board or table in two parts, and to con-
nect such parts together so that one may fold over the other, and the whole
occupy comparatively little space, and be placed against the wall or in any
convenient place when not in use, and by such construction it will be adapted
for use in private families where no room can be devoted entirely as a billiard
room. I make the table with or without legs or supports. Where legs are
made, they may be unscrewed and packed away when the table is not in use,
or the billiard may be placed on an ordinary table or tables, or other
supports. I make the table to fold over as does the ordinary bagatelle board,
but differing therefrom by the arrangements necessary to secure the cushions
and other portions of the billiard in their places when it is opened.

page_text: In the tables without pockets (otherwise carambole tables), I propose to form
the cushion of a combination of metal wire and caoutchouc or other elastic
material, and by means of a screw or similar mechanical contrivance placed
beneath, causing it to yield to pressure in folding, and when unfolded to be
tightened to the same degree of elasticity as the other portions of the cushion;
or the cushion may be divided, and the parted ends so arranged that on
meeting when the table is unfolded, they will press against each other, forming
as firm and elastic a body as the remainder of the cushion. In some cases
I propose to carry the hinge or hinged rod quite across the width and under-
neath the table, and as the cloth will be made to loosen on either side of the
severance of the table, no mark of wear or other inequality will be left on the
board when opened for play.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Victor. Blumberg in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th December 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, VICTOR
BLUMBERG, of Bloomfield Lodge, Notting Hill, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Victor Blumberg, Her special licence that I, the said Victor
Blumberg, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Victor Blumberg, 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
THE MANUFACTURE OF BILLIARD TABLES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Victor Blumberg, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Victor Blumberg, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of my Invention is the construction of the billiard table in such
manner that it may not necessarily occupy the space now requisite at all
times for its standing, but that it may be folded up and set aside when not in
use. By carrying this object into effect I produce billiard tables that are
adapted for use in private houses where no room or chamber can be devoted
entirely as a billiard room. I make the table to fold over as does a draught
or bagatelle board, but differing therefrom by the arrangements necessary
to secure the fitting in position, as hereafter described. I make my tables
with or without legs or supports. Where legs are made for the billiard
table, they are not only made to unscrew and put away, but they are made
with screws in the centre thereof as well, so that the table may be adjusted
to a perfect level by working the screws of the legs, no matter how uneven.
the floor of the room may be. If no legs or supports are made for the table,
but that when in use it is merely placed on an ordinary table, then feet, made
to screw as the legs before mentioned, are inserted into the corners and centre
sides of the table for the adjustinent.
In constructing billiard tables without pockets (otherwise carambole tables),
I form the cushion of a combination of metal wire and caoutchouc or other
clastic or suitable material, and by means of a screw or similar mechanical
contrivance at the folding joint cause it to yield to the traction in folding, and
to tighten up or lie parallel with the other portions of the cushions when the
table is reopened for use. Or, if preferred, the cushion may be divided at
the joint, and so arranged that on the table being unfolded they will press
against each other, forming as firm and elastic a body as the other portions
of the cushions.
In the Drawing hereunto annexed, and forming part of this my Speci-
fication, Figure 1 is a plan view of a folding billiard table open for use;
Figure 2, a side view of the same when closed; Figure 3, plan view of "hold-
fast for preventing deflection; Figure 4, side view of holdfast; Figure 5,
plan view of a table without pockets, when open; Figure 6, side view of
table when closed; Figure 7, end view of table with sliding end detached;
Figure 8, plan view of sliding end; Figure 9, end view of sliding end with
grooves; Figure 9%, end view of tongue, which runs in grooves in sliding end;
Figure 10,. plan view of "holdfast" for this table; Figure 11, one of the legs
of the table, shewing adjusting screw in centre thereof. Similar letters of
reference denoting corresponding parts in each of the Figures respectively.

page_text: Figure 1 shews the top of a folding billiard table in three parts, a, b, and c,
the third part c being hinged between the parts a and b with a flat hinge
(shewn in dotted lines), so that when the table is laid open the entire surface
is flat, and when closed the strip c forms the end as it were of the box. In
order to keep the table flat and prevent deflection, I employ a "holdfast,"
Figures 3, 4, and 10, provided with tongues d, d, taking into slotted plates
e, e, screwed on to each of the parts a, b. These holdfasts are provided with
two holes, one hole coming immediately beneath the pocket-hole in the
piece c, the holdfast itself having the pocket affixed thereto, the other hole
being tapped for the leg to screw into. The legs being seperated in the
centre are adjusted as previously described.
Another table, shewn at Figure 5, is somewhat similar to Figure 1, only
that the piece c is not used in the same way. Upon the ends of the pieces
a, b, I let in tongues, as at Figure 9*, and run a slide f on to them, this slide
being provided with grooves to receive them, and when slid on to its place
forms the opposite end of the box. The cushions, as well as the part c and
hinges, are shewn in dotted lines.
Having now described the nature and particulars of my said improvements,
and the manner of carrying the same into practical effect, I desire it to be
particularly understood that I do not confine myself to the exact details of
this description, as such may be varied or modified to suit particular cases
without departing from the principle thereof; but I claim as of my Invention,
and which to the best of my knowledge and belief has not hitherto been used
within this realm, the construction and arrangement of billiard tables to fold
over for the purposes set forth, and as herein described and illustrated in the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Victor Blumberg, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
JOHN GEDGE, Patent Agent,
Wellington Street, Strand.
VICTOR BLUMBERG. (L.S.)