A New Game and Tables for Use in Playing the same.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 15th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 6th July, 1889-Accepted, 3rd Aug., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New Game and Tables for Use in Playing the same.
I, EDWARD BEAUCHAMP SINGLETON MERCER 2 Berkeley Terrace, Wimbledon,
Surrey Commission Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This is a table or board which may be made almost any size but about 6 feet by
Gfect is the best, it should be made quite square. There are four openings for
pockets one at each corner such as are usually made in an ordinary billiard table.
There are four lines marked on the cloth at a given distance and equally from each of
the four cushions in the centre of each line is placed a mark or spot on which a black
ball is spotted. At a given distance and equally on each line from the spot on each
side thereof is fixed a point, such points being joined together by a curve which
makes a sort of triangle towards each corner of the table or board, play being
started within any one of these four triangles. At a given distance from each spot
and towards the exact centre of the table or board a square or enclosure is made
having the exact centre of the table or board as the centre of the enclosure, having
holes at each corner, similar to the opening at each corner of the table or board, but
having india rubber cushions on cach side of the four boundaries of the square
or enclosure, in the interior of which is placed one or more cups numbered, such as
are used in a bagatelle board. The positions of these may vary as also the position of
the whole square or enclosure which may have each corner aperture pointing either to
each spot or to each corner pocket of exterior of table or in the event of only a
triangular enclosure, as desired-the pockets or openings in all cases should be about
the same size in proportion to the balls used as an ordinary billiard table pocket is to
the ordinary billiard ball used. The game is then played by two or more according
to set rules. Sticks known as cues are used which may vary in length according to
size of table or room used. This table or board might be made either in one or to
fold up and the enclosure might consist either of a square, a circle, a triangle or of
more than four sides.
Dated this 15th day of May 1889.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New Game and Tables for Use in Playing the same.
I EDWARD BEAUCHAMP SINGLETON MERCER of 2 Berkeley Terrace, Wimbledon
Surrey, Gentleman, 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 :-
This game is played on a certain table or board by means of different colored or
marked balls playing on to or off four black balls or off certain cushions into a certain
enclosure or otherwise by means of an ordinary billiard cue-Artificial supports called
rests may be used where the hands can not be conveniently placed or where a ball
is out of reach. This table or board should be square and although I shall proceed to
give details for making a 6 foot table or board yet any size can be made either after
these dimensions or by making the enclosure either larger or smaller. First you
make a square table or board feet by 6 feet having india rubber cushions all round
somewhat like a billiard table with four openings for pockets, one at each corner of
the table or board, the cushions are made in height according to the size of the balls
used, for this sized table or board say two inches, and the openings aro the same width
compared with the balls used as is a full sized billiard table pocket opening to the full
.

page_text: sized billiard balls used. All cushions and the bed of the table or board are covered
with cloth (just like an ordinary billiard table). On this cloth parallel lines are drawn
with each side exactly nine inches from the edges forming a square, this space inside
is four feet six inches square, in the exact centre of each line forming this square is
placed a mark or spot, making four in all, on which are placed four black balls-one
on each mark or spot. At twelve inches on either side from each of the extreme
corners of this square and towards the mark or spot in the centre of each line is made
by aid of compasses a segment of a circle connecting these lines, thus forming a
kind of triangle at each corner of the table or board. These four triangles are called
balk spaces or lines and denote where the player starts from. A square or enclosure
is then made of india rubber cushions both inside and outside and the same space
available at each corner for balls to enter as is left at each of the extreme corners of
the table or board-the cushions being the same height as those on the edge of the
table or board-Within the enclosure are placed five cups such as are used on a
bagatelle board, large enough to receive a ball should such be put in-though either a
greater or less number of cups than five might be placed within-each cup is
numbered inside-lines marked across each opening of enclosure from cushion to
cushion denote whether a ball is in or out of enclosure. At exactly six inches at
right angles from the centre of each line across the openings of the enclosure aro
made other spots making four in all if enclosure be square or circular, if the enclosure
used has either less or more than four openings, then the original spots between the
balk spaces or lines only are used for each set of rules.
The bed of the table or board may be made either of slate, wood or any other
suitable material. The cushions may be made from any suitable substance with india
rubber or any other suitable material giving elasticity.
The balls are made either from ivory, wood or any other suitable substance. For
this sized table I would suggest using two inch balls and three inch apertures.
The pockets attached to the outside cushions are made just like the pockets of an
ordinary billiard table.
There are eight small scoring and chalk boxes affixed to the table or board, one
at each side of each of the corner pockets and are made according to description in
drawing, after the style of a roller date case lying on its back and each scoring box has
the color or mark of a separate ball painted on the top so that each player may score
for himself or herself and it will be seen by each player as he or she moves round the
table or board. The openings in the centre enclosure, if four, may turn either
towards each corner. pocket or towards each mark or spot whereon the black balls
are placed and the enclosure may consist either of a square, a triangle, a circle or a
figure having more than four sides. The centre of this enclosure in all cases should
be the exact centre of the table or board and the length of each side cushion,
supposing it to be a square should be about fifteen inches in length for this sized
table or board, and if so desired instead of being permanently fastened to the bed
might be loaded inside with lead sufficiently heavy not to be moved on one side by
ordinary means during any game, or may have pegs put in the base to fit into holes
in the bed of the table or board.

page_text: This may be played by from two to eight players each having different colored or
marked balls to play with, though a greater number may play if desired by playing
sides and two using one ball for both.
Points or numbers are made either by cannons, by putting any black ball or
opponents halls into the enclosure by means of striking the player's ball with a cue
against either any of the four black balls or any opponent's ball, or by means of
striking the player's ball with a cue against any of the four black balls and so
entering the enclosure from off one of the said black balls or by the player's ball
simply being played against one of the four outside cushions without hitting any
black ball and so entering the enclosure. The four pockets at the extreme corner of
the table or board are to be carefully avoided.
1. A cannon consists of striking two black balls in succession by the player's ball, it
may be made either direct or off any cushion but should any opponent's ball be touched
en passanti.e. between the first black ball struck and the second it shall not be
counted a cannon. Cannons shall only be counted should they be made outside
the centre enclosure and count only two for each cannon made.
2. Holeing or putting any black or opponent's ball into the enclosure means
sending it in by means of first striking the player's ball with the cue against any
black or opponent's ball and so sending it in.
3. Entering enclosure from off any black ball means the player striking his or her
ball with a cue against one of the black balls and so sending his or her ball into
enclosure from off such black ball, but this may not be done off any opponent's ball.
4. A player may enter the enclosure with his or her ball either off any of the
four black balls or off any of the four outside cushions.
5. Any ball being driven into or entering the enclosure by means of another ball or
off any cushion and coming out again shall not count to the player and any ball
entering the enclosure must have entered and remain at least over half the ball's
diameter in order to score.
6. As soon as any ball shall enter the enclosure and a score is made therefrom it
shall at once be taken out.
7. In the event of it being a black ball it shall be placed by the next player on the
nearest spot which is vacant-if equi-distant from two vacant spots then on one of
them at his option.
8. Should the ball entering the enclosure be any players ball it shall also at once be
taken out, if belonging to a non striker at the time it shall be kept off the table till
his turn came round when he may restart from any of the four balk lines or spaces at
-his pleasure, but if the striker's ball enters and his turn has not yet finished, he takes
it out and places it within any of the four balk lines or spaces at his option and
continues to play till he ceases to score.
.9. If a black ball is driven into the enclosure it counts 4 plus the double of any
number of cup it may happen to fall into but if it only enters without being cupped
it only counts 1.

page_text: 10. If the striker's ball enters the enclosure off a black ball it counts 3 plus the
single number of any cup it may happen to fall into but if it only enters without
being cupped it only counts 3-the same rule applies in the event of any opponent's
ball being put in.
11. If a player enters the enclosure off any opponent's ball he forfeits his turn but
- does not deduct any score.
12. If a player enters the enclosure simply off an outside cushion and not off any
ball it counts 2 plus the single number of any cup it may chance to fall into, but if
none, it only counts 2 and his ball is taken out and he plays from any of the four
balk lines or spaces he may wish.
13. If a player holes any opponent's ball by any means either off any cushion or
direct he counts 2 plus any single number of cup it may fall into, if none only 2 and
the ball is taken off the table till the owner's turn come round again.
14. If a player follows his opponent's ball into the enclosure, he only counts 2 for
putting his opponent's ball in, and although he does not deduct anything for going
in himself, yet he ceases to play, both balls being taken off the table till their
respective turns come round again.
15. If a player follows a black ball into enclosure he counts 3 for his own ball plus
single numbers of any cup, if he goes in, and 4 for the black plus any double number
of cup it may fall into, if no cups are entered simply 3 and 4 respectively are
counted.
16. Should any black ball be driven by any means into any corner pocket the
then player shall lose 3 for any or every such bali so pocketed whether it be any
black ball or opponents ball or himself either direct or off any cushion and he ceases
to play except in the event of scoring at the same time by contact with any
opponent's ball, when he may continue to play but he must deduct 3. This last part
of rule does not apply with regard to the black balls.
17. In the case of any black ball being pocketed it shall be placed by the next
player at his option on the nearest vacant spot or if it be a player's ball it
there till the owner's turn come round again.
18. No balls of any kind should remain in the enclosure during play.
19. The first player must break the balls.
may remain
20. This game shall be for 50 or 100 up but may be varied by mutual agreement
before any game.
In the event of more than two players and where one shall have obtained the
required number of points agreed on, each player shall have the same number of
turns and the highest scorer at the end shall be deemed to have won the game.
22. A cannon may be made or any other score even if the striker's ball is touching
another or two black balls be touching.
23. There are no such things as misses counting against any player except that in
so doing he stops his play in that he does not score, and any player is not under any
penalty by not hitting other balls or even any cushion except as above stated..
2
24. No player's ball may enter the enclosure directly off the cushions of enclosure
but must (if only played off a cushion) first be off one of the outside cushions of
table or board.
25. Where there are only two players forfeited points are added to the opponent's
score. Where three or more play they are deducted from the player's score.
26. There shall be no actual play with the cue within the enclosure.
27 On no account shall any ball be removed during the game in order to give any
striker clearer play.
28. Order of play. For two players-White plays first and breaks the balls-
Spot white follows.
For more than two players in the following order :-
White, Spot white, Red, Green, Brown, Blue, Yellow, Lake. Should there be four

page_text: This is played by two or more having a distinguishing ball each to play with and
is performed by means of striking each player's ball with a cue and so endeavouring
either to hole or pocket any of the four black balls which are placed on certain marks
or spots on the table or board provided for such.
Play is commenced by the holder of the white ball (cach black ball being placed
on a spot near each opening of the enclosure, if there are four of such) who may
place his ball at the extreme corner of any of the four balk lines or spaces and
endeavour by striking his ball against a black one and so making the ball pass into
the enclosure which when done is placed on the nearest of the spots vacant to the
black ball after it has stopped within the enclosure.
1. Players follow in the same order as No. 1 set of rules.
2. A player goes on playing till he ceases to score.
3. Should any player's ball enter either the enclosure or any pocket the owner
thereof ceases to play till his or her turn comes round.
4. When a black ball is driven into the enclosure it counts 4 plus the number of
any cup, if cupped if not cupped simply 4 is counted.
5. If a black ball by any means is pocketed it counts 3 and is taken out and spotted
on the nearest mark or spot for that purpose to the pocket it went down in and
the player goes on playing from where his ball remained after his last stroke.
6. Any black ball entering the enclosure is dealt with in the same manner as if it
were pocketed and a ball must remain still within the enclosure in order to score.
Any ball merely travelling in and out again without stopping does not score.
7. Should a player's ball enter either a pocket or enclosure the player ceases
to play till his turn comes round and his ball is kept off the table being out of play.
8. Players' balls unless entering any pocket or enclosure should always remain
where they left off rolling.
9. When any player holes or pockets his own ball and also by the same stroke
puts a black ball either in the enclosure or a pocket he ceases his stroke and no score
is counted.
10. Cannons are made either by hitting two black balls following without interrup-
tion by another ball, or by hitting any two opponent's balls in the same manner
without a black ball intervening and in both cases counts 2 though cannons may either
be played or not in this set of rules as agreed beforehand.
11. A player may either go off any cushion or off any other ball, opponents or
black in order to try and put down another black ball.
"
12. If no black ball at all is hit during a stroke it counts a miss" and 1 is added
to the opponent or opponents' scores a miss cue is treated in like manner.
13. No ball.shall be removed during any game to make a clearer stroke.
14. Anything over half diameter of ball in enclosure counts as in.
15. For two players the game is 39 up without cannons or 50 up with cannons or
more as agreed upon beforehand.
16. Any foul stroke made by moving any other ball than the striker's with the
cue, the striker looses his turn, if claimed by an opponent.
17. If a striker having put one of the four balls into the enclosure and all spots
are occupied, he himself having managed to put his own ball in the place occupying
that on which the black ball has vacated such black ball shall be placed on either side
as near as can be without touching the striker's ball to the original spot it was on
before the last stroke was made.
The four spots used between the balk lines or spaces for No. 1 set of rules has no
reference to this set except in cases where an enclosure of either less or more than
four openings is used.

page_text: 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. The designing of new or improved tables or boards for certain amusement.
2. The use of interior cushions with india rubber on each side constituting an
enclosure with openings and the manner of placing same with cups inside.
3. The use of four balk lines or spaces to play from with four black balls and
eight distinguishing balls also eight or more spots in connection with these tables or
.boards.
4. The method of having a scorer and chalk box combined representing each
player's ball attached to the table or board.
5. The construction of set rules adapted for amusement on these tables or boards
and the manner or method of playing or performing the same.
Dated this Fourth day of July 1889
E. B. S. MERCER.