Improvements in Game Apparatus.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Nov., 1395-Accepted, 28th Dec., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Game Apparatus.
I, NEWTON CLEMPSON SAMPLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at
No. 1529 North Street, in the City of Philadelphia, in the County of Philadelphia,
and State of Pennsylvania, Mechanic, 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 has relation to a game apparatus particularly of that class in
which a board having thereon the outline or map of contiguous countries is made
to represent a field of warfare and a cannon or other suitable instrument is made to
convey or propel balls or marbles across the board to occupy various positions
thereon, which positions are indicated by flags and puppets; and it relates
particularly to the general construction and arrangement of such a. game
apparatus.
"
•
The principal objects of my invention are first, to provide a game apparatus
which is instructive, amusing and interesting and which may be readily manipulated;
second, to provide in such an apparatus a board having upon its face. the outlines
of two contiguous countries supposedly at war and provided with recessed portions
representing fortresses, cities or other points of historical interest; third, to provide
in such an apparatus, a cannon-or other propelling instrument mounted upon the
board and adapted to throw or roll balls or marbles of suitable size and color. into
the various recesses of the board; and fourth, to provide in such an apparatus
flags, puppets or other indicators which will show the successive occupation of
these recesses by the balls discharged from the cannon or other propelling
instrument.
My invention consists of a game apparatus, constructed and arranged "in
substantially the manner hereinafter described and claimed.
The nature, general characteristics and scope of my invention will be more fully
understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings forming part hereof; and in which in perspective is represented a game
apparatus embodying the features of my invention.
of
face a,
upper
Referring to the drawings A, represents a game-board on the
which is located the outlines b and c, of two contiguous or belligerent countries C
and D. In the instance illustrated in the drawing is the outlines of contiguous
portions of China and Japan and the game apparatus is designed to represent the
progress of war between the said two countries but it. is, however, to be understood
that the board may represent the outlines of any two countries, such as Germany
and France, England and the United States, &c., and the apparatus designed to
represent the progress of a historical war between any two or more countries.
Between the two countries C and D, is outlined a neutral space B, which in the
present instance would represent a sca. Each division of the board is provided with
a group of irregularly arranged recesses d, ranged near the neutral space B, and
representing seaports of the countries C and D, and with a group of recesses e,
surrounding & recess for 9, in either direction. The recess f, would represent the
Capitol, Tokio of Japan, and the recess g, the Capitol, Pekin of China, and the
recesses e, represent inland towns, forts or fortifications, in either country. All of
these recesses d, e, f and g, are of a depth and diameter sufficient to receive

page_text: is
marble or ball h, and to retain the same therein. Near each recess d, e, f or
arranged a pocket or opening 1, in which may be inserted the pole of a flag c¹ or j,
which represents respectively the standards of China and Japan and hinged to the
board near the recesses are knock-down puppets k, painted or dressed to represent
the soldiers of the country which that portion of the board is designed to represent.
The recesses d, e, f and g, may all bear names of historical or geographical
interest, as indicated in the drawing. At either end of the board is an unrecessed
portion E and E¹, and at the upper end E, is placed a dais m, to represent an
embankment or tower. On this dais m, is placed a cannon n, or similar propelling
instrument from which the balls or marbles h, may be thrown or allowed to pass
into either country C or D.
To play the game the hinged soldiers k, are placed in an upright position beside
the respective recesses and the flags c¹ and i, inserted in the perforations 1, of the
respective divisions of the board. Each player then discharges from the cannon
or other appliance n, a ball or marble h, in any direction and should it fall in a
recess of the country against which the player is supposed to be fighting, the
standard of that country is removed, the soldier knocked down by the ball or
marble and the standard of the opposing country raised about the said recess.
This signifies that the fortification, sea-port or town has been captured by the
enemy. The game progresses, and should a ball from a player representing the
original country enter the recess which has been captured by his opponent,
the soldier k, is restored to an upright position, and the standards exchanged,
signifying that the fortification, sea-port or town has been recaptured. When,
however, a recess for g, representing the Capitol of each country has been captured
by the player representing the opposing country, the standard of the opposing
country remains thereat until the termination of the game and the said Capitol
may not be recaptured.
After a certain number of balls or marbles have been fired the number of ports,
towns, fortifications, &c. in the possession of either side determines the winner of
the game.
If desired, the capture of the Capitol itself may result in the
termination of the game or may numerically overbalance the capture of one or
more ports, &c. When the ball or marble remains in neutral territory, it is lost, to
the player.
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 a game-apparatus, a board having outlined upon its face a map of two
contiguous or belligerent countries, a neutral territory separating the outlines of
said countries, recesses representing the towns, fortifications and Capitol of each
country, balls or marbles and means adapted to present the balls or marbles in
varying directions over the board towards the recesses adapted to receive and
retain the same, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2. In a game-apparatus, a board having outlined upon its face a map of two
contiguous or belligerent countries, a neutral territory separating the same, recesses
representing the Capitol, principal towns and fortifications of each country, balls
or marbles and a toy cannon or similar propelling instrument therefor adapted to
present the balls in varying directions over the board toward the recesses which
are adapted to receive and retain the same, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
3. In a game apparatus, a board having outlined upon its face a map of two
contiguous or belligerent countries, a neutral territory separating the same, recesses
representing the Capitol, principal towns and fortifications of each country, flags
representing the standards of each country and adapted to be placed in the board
near said recesses and removable therefrom, knock-down puppets secured to the
board near said recesses, balls and a toy cannon or similar propelling instrument

page_text: therefor adapted to present the balls in varying directions over the board towards
the recesses adapted to receive and retain the same, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
Dated, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 23rd day of October A.D. 1895.
NEWTON CLEMPSON SAMPLE.