AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PROJECTING CRICKET BALLS OR OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Lillywhite and John Wisden, both of
Coventry Street, in the County of Middlesex,. Cricketing Outfitters, for
the Invention of "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PROJECTING CRICKET BALLS
OR OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES."
Sealed the 19th October 1858, and dated the 24th April 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Lillywhite and
John Wisden at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 24th April 1858.
We, FREDERICK LILLYWHITE and JOHN WISDEN, both of Coventry Street,
in the County of Middlesex, Cricketing Outfitters, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PROJECTING
CRICKET BALLS OR OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES," to be as follows:-
We construct the apparatus which we term a "catapulta," of wood or any
suitable material. A vertical framing, formed hollow to receive an inner
framing, rests and revolves (or partially so) on a block, armed with a spike to
be inserted in the ground. This outer framing is supported by two rods, also
to be fixed in the ground. An inner framing strengthened by blocks above
and below, occupies the inner area of the framing first mentioned. A spring
projects both from the top and bottom of the inner framing. Two lines of
catgut (or other strong material) pass from the ends of these springs to a centre
socket made to hold the ball. To the back of the socket a strap is attached,
which loops on to a hook or trigger apparatus, moved by a lever handle at the

page_text: back of the vertical framing. The ball being placed in the socket, the inner
framing is adjusted, the lever handle lowered, drawing the socket back towards
the framing (as a bow string); the detent is then detached, and the ball flies
to the mark desired.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Frederick Lillywhite and John Wisden in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 23rd October 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, FREDERICK
LILLYWHITE and JOHN WISDEN, both of Coventry Street, in the County of
Middlesex, Cricketing Outfitters, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said Frederick Lilly white and John Wisden, Her special licence that we,
the said Frederick Lillywhite and John Wisden, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said Frederick Lillywhite and John
Wisden, our 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 "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
PROJECTING CRICKET BALLS OR OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES," upon the condition
(amongst others). that we, the said Frederick Lillywhite and John Wisden,
our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or one
of our, 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 Frederick Lillywhite, for myself and
on behalf of my copartner, John Wisden, do hereby declare the nature of
our said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings forming part of
this our Specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, similar

page_text: letters denoting similar parts, where such parts appear or can be seen in each
of the Figures respectively.
The object of our Invention is to enable any person to discharge a ball or
other missile so as to reach or hit a given mark with unerring precision, and
we term the apparatus, by means of which we effect our object, a "catapulta."
Our more immediate object is to use such "catapulta" in the well-known
game of cricket, as a medium for correct bowling, enabling players to practise
batting where no efficient bowling is to be obtained, our apparatus performing
every phase of bowling as the operator may direct, the ball rising and falling,
or being projected direct at the wicket, as if delivered from the hand. But it
will be obvious that our Invention is applicable for the projection of missiles
under whatever circumstances it may prove desirable to discharge such missiles
with certainty of aim.
In the annexed or accompanying Drawing, Figure 1 shews a side elevation
of our machine when not in use; Figure 2, side elevation of our machine
about to be discharged; Figure 3, back view of the apparatus; Figure 4,
longitudinal section of spring catch; Figure 5, front view of sling; Figure 6,
lever handle detached.
At Figures 1 and 2, a, a, is the vertical framing of the machine, having a
pin or peg at its base, which is inserted in the ground; the frame d being kept
perpendicular by stay rods b, b, which pass from the top of the frame a down
to the ground, as shewn, where they are securely held to the ground by pegs
or pins. Bows of lancewood or other suitable material d, d, are passed into a
second framing c (Figure 3), from whence they project from the front of the
machine, being held in their places by pins e, e, passing through their ends.
A double cord f (of catgut or other suitable material) is attached to the ends
of the bows d, having a leathern sling g about the centre thereof. Attached to
the sides and back of this sling is a cord h, which is here placed for the hook i
of the spring catch to take into; the spring catch is fastened by a strap j to a
lever handle k working on its fulcrum at l, so it will appear that if the ball be
placed in the jaws of the sling g and the hook i of the spring catch inserted
into the cord h, it is only necessary to draw the lever handle from its position
at Figure 1, down to the position at Figure 2, when the ball is ready for
discharging, which is effected in the following manner:-Referring to Figure 4,
it will be seen the hook i turns on a pin, one end of which falls into the end
of a bolt m, said bolt having a slot cut into one end thereof, to allow the lower
part of the hook or trigger p (Figures 2 and 4) to be passed through it, and be
pinned at the lower extremity. A spiral spring o is placed behind the hook P,
so that when the cord n (Figure 2) is drawn, the bolt m is also withdrawn, and

page_text: the part of the hook i falls off the end of the bolt m, and escapes, thereby
discharging the ball.
At Figure 3 will be seen the double framing of the machine, for the purpose
of raising or lowering the ball to the required pitch, the inner frame working
in the outer one, upon centres at g; the lever handle on being drawn down
remains in that position without any fastening, as will be seen at Figure 6; the
end of the strap having passed somewhat below the fulcrum of the lever, has a
tendency to draw it still further down instead of up, thus it will keep in its
place till the trigger p is pulled back, after which the lever handle k is again
raised ready for the next discharge of the ball.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and the means by
which it is carried into effect, we desire it to be distinctly understood that we
lay no claim to the exclusive use of any of the parts of the "catapulta," or
apparatus we have herein described or shewn in the Drawing, when taken as
parts, and used separately, and not in combination, or for the purposes of our
Invention; nor do we confine ourselves to the precise details or exact modi-
fications of apparatus or materials named as used in making the same, as herein
mentioned or described, as such may be and indeed must be varied (and
altered) to suit for the discharge of different missiles, as if arrows or bolts are
to be discharged from the "catapulta," instead of balls, as well as for larger or
smaller apparatus; but we declare to be of our Invention, and we claim, the
exclusive use of the apparatus which we term a "catapulta," for projecting
cricket balls or other similar articles, as herein-before described and illustrated
by the annexed Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Lilly white (for myself and on
behalf of my copartner) John Wisden, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-second day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
FRED LILLYWHITE. (L.S.)
Witness,
JOHN GEDGE, Patent Agent,
4, Wellington Street, Strand.