A New Table Game.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 25th July, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 24th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 24th May, 1595
A New Table Game.
HARRY OWEN ROBERTS 4 Commercial Road Gloucester Manager of Mineral
Water Works do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A new game called Ducodec or Table Bowls, consisting of eight or more balls
made of wood, glass, stone, ivory or any other suitable material, of differing colours
or with distinguishing marks, the colours or marks are to enable the players to
identify their respective balls.
Also one smaller ball made of wood glass, stone, ivory or any other suitable
material, coloured or otherwise; for the purposes of the game called the conus.
Also semi-circular, grooved or hollowed out, pieces of wood, or any other suitable
material from 6 to 9 inches long, such as a bamboo cane, slit down the whole length
& cut into the desired pieces, these are for the purpose of giving force to the balls &
causing them to roll in any direction & at any speed the player may wish & for the
purposes of the game are called the guides or runners.
Also a measure or rule for the purpose of judging the distances of the balls from
the conus at the end of each set.
The game is played by partners being chosen who should arrange themselves
alternately round a table which should be covered with a cloth. The conus may
be placed anywhere near the centre of the table, each player being supplied with a
guide & two or more balls, according to the number of players. The object of each
player is to get their balls (opponents playing alternately & in turn) as near the
conus as possible. The method by which this is accomplished being briefly as
follows: Hold the guide with your left hand, in a slanting position, one end
resting on the table, place one of the balls at the top of the groove, allow it to run
down on to the table, the skill being to so hold the guide that the balls will travel
only the distance required.
A point is scored for every ball that is nearest the conus (at the end of each set)
without an opponent's ball intervening. The side which succeeds in first scoring
11 points wins the game.
A code of rules regulates the whole proceedings of the game & with the articles
before described are packed in a box.
Dated this Twenty-fourth day of July 1894.
A New Table Game.
HARRY OWEN ROBERTS 4 Commercial Road Gloucester Manager Mineral
Water Works, 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 :-
A new game called Ducodec, or Table Bowls, consisting of 8 or more balls made of
'wood, glass, stone, ivory or any other suitable material, of differing colours, or

page_text: with distinguishing marks, the colours or marks are to enable the players to identify
their respective balls.
Also one smaller ball made of wood, glass, stone, ivory or any other suitable
material, coloured or otherwise, for the purposes of the game called the conus.
Also grooved pieces of wood or semi-circular pieces of wood hollowed out, or it
may be of any other suitable material from 6 to 9 inches long preferably, such as a
bamboo cane slit length ways & cut into suitable lengths. These are for the
purposes of the game called guides or runners & are to give force to the balls,
causing them to roll in any direction & at any speed the player may wish.
Also a measure or rulo for the purpose of judging the distances of the balls
from the conus at the end of each set.
The game is played by partners being chosen who should arrange themselves
alternately with their opponents round a table which may be covered with a cloth.
The conus may be placed anywhere near the centre of the table, each player being
supplied with a guide & two or more balls, according to the number of players.
The object of each player (opponents playing alternately & in turn) is to get their
balls as near the conus as possible. The balls are played by means of the guide,
which should be held in the left hand in a slanting position, allowing the lower end
to rest on the table or to be up a little way off the table. In this position place
one of the balls at the top of the- groove in the guide, allow it to run down on to
the table, the skill being to so hold the guide that the balls will travel only the
distance required, it being sometimes necessary to send them with force to scatter
your opponents balls which may surround the conus, while at other times when
endeavouring to get near the conus, the ball must be sent very gently. A point is.
scored for every ball that is nearest the conus at the end of each set, without an
opponents ball intervening. The side which succeeds in first scoring eleven points.
wins the game. A code of rules regulates the whole proceedings of the game &
with the articles before described are packed in a box.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. A grooved or hollowed out piece of wood or other suitable material as herein
described for the purpose of propelling or giving force to the balls, & used in the
herein described manner.
2. The combination of appliances herein described, for use as a table game
substantially as herein described.
Dated this 22nd day of Anvil 1005