AN IMPROVED COMBINED CHESS AND CRIBBAGE BOARD OR TABLE
Year: 1869

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Saunders and Curry
Smith at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 8th March 1869.
We, WILLIAM SAUNDERS and CURRY SMITH, both of No. 12, Newgate
Street, in the City of London, Dressing Bag Manufacturers, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED COMBINED
CHESS AND CRIBBAGE BOARD OR TABLE," to be as follows:-
The main object of our Invention is to supply travellers or passengers
on board ships and steam vessels and in railway trains and other vehicles
with a light, compact, and convenient board or table for chess, draughts,.
cards, backgammon, and other games, which board or table will also be
found very convenient for ordinary home use. The chess board is made
to fold, and is provided with a detachable stand which when the board is
not in use is intended to be packed inside the board, and the said
Invention consists chiefly in providing the interior of the board or table
with a separate enclosed box or receptacle for chess, draughts, cards,
dice, and other articles required for various games, which is securely
attached to the board and so arranged as to leave the required space
therein for the detachable stand.

page_text: The said Invention also consists in combining together a chess board
and cribbage board, either with or without the separate box and detach-
able stand. The board or table top, which may be of any desired size,
is like an ordinary chess board made of two parts hinged together at
the middle of the board, the interior of the board forming a tray which
may be provided with backgammon points or fitted for some other
games, or if preferred left quite plain. The chess squares are preferably
perforated to receive pegs, which are formed on the bottom of the
chessmen, and are inserted in the said holes to prevent the disarrange-
ment or interruption of the game by the motion of a vessel or vehicle
whereon the board is used. The box or case which contains the cards,
chess, draughts, and other articles used in the various games may be
of any convenient form and construction, and is provided with a sliding
or other lid or cover. The said box is secured in the tray by bolts or
other means which allow it to be conveniently released when required.
The cribbage board is preferably formed on two opposite sides of the
chess board. The stand can be readily attached and detached, and can
be separated into short pieces, which may be conveniently packed within
the board. We prefer to secure the board to the stand by forming the
latter with jaws which embrace the two hinged sides of the board, the
latter being provided with a bolt for securing it when properly placed
on the stand. The said stand is provided with feet whereon it will rest
firmly without occupying an inconvenient amount of space, the said feet
being jointed together and detachable from the other part of the
stand. The latter is made telescopic so that the board or top can be
adjusted to any desired height, and spring catches or other devices are
provided to secure the stand at the various heights to which it may be
adjusted. If desired the combined chess and cribbage board may be
made and used without the stand.