A New or Improved Game.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 20th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 13th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 11th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Game.
I, ROBERT OWEN ALLSOP, of 37, Norfolk Street, Strand, London, in the
County of Middlesex, Architect, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
A new
or improved game played with miniature boomerangs formed in
imitation of the boomerangs used as implements of chase and sport by the
aborigines of Australia, the said miniature boomerangs being caused to fly into the
air and return to or near the position from which they are discharged by placing
them upon a suitable pedestal or stand and flipping or striking them with a small
piece of cane or other suitable device.
In carrying out this my invention I employ a pedestal of suitable height, preferably
one foot, constructed of wood or any other material, and consisting of a stand.or
foot-piece, an upright, and a top. This top-piece I preferably form in the shape
of a button about one inch in diameter, and inclined, in relation to the upright
of the pedestal, at such an angle as causes the boomerangs, when struck, to fly
and return after the manner of the real Australian boomerang: I make this
inclined plate or button, fixed or adjustable as may be desirable. I also make the
upright of the pedestal adjustable in respect to height, in desirable cases.
On the table or other support upon which this game is played, I place a cloth of
suitable material and size, or a sheet of paper with a diagram printed thereon, the
said cloth or paper being for the purpose of determining the score of each player.
For preference, I make this provision in the shape of a cloth of green-baize,
circular in form, about eighteen inches in diameter, and having a concentric circle
marked upon it, about eight inches in diameter. This cloth I place at a convenient
distance from the edge of the table or other support upon which the game is played;
and in the centre of the cloth I place the above-described pedestal.
Upon the sloping button or top of this pedestal I place the boomerangs, suc-
cessively, one after the other, in such positions as my experimental trials of the
The boomerangs I
game tell me are best to ensure an accurate flight and return.
construct of any suitable material, preferably thin cardboard, varying them in
respect to outline and angle just as the Australian boomerangs are varied in outline
and angle. The boomerangs I make either quite flat or twisted and moulded to
any desirable shape, and I make them of any size, preferably about two-and-a-half
inches from end to end.
Placing one of the miniature boomerangs, as above described, on the top plate or
button of the pedestal, and with one of its ends projecting over the button, I strike
this projecting end with a piece of cane, or with a stick or rod of any suitable
material, in the direction at which the button is inclined.
For this striking, or flipping, I use, for preference, a thin piece of bamboo cane,
about six inches in length. Holding one end of this striker or flipper between the
finger and thumb of the right hand, and steadying the other end by gentle pressure
of the first finger of the left hand, by an increased pressure of the thumb of the
right hand I cause the striker or flipper to slip from under the finger of the left
hand and thus strike against the end of the boomerang, which operation, if deftly
performed, causes the boomerang to fly forwards and upwards, revolving the while
about its centre of gravity, and returning near to, or far from, the pedestal according
as it is skilfully or unskilfully hit.
In playing this game the players two or more in number, successively discharge
a given number of boomerangs, preferably twelve, and according to whether they
return and fall on or near the cloth, or other scoring device, the score of each
player is made. The simplest and best way of playing this game consists in

page_text: endeavouring to so strike the boomerangs as to cause them, in their return flight, to
fall as near as possible to the pedestal; but, as variations on this game, I arrange
that the object of the players may be that the boomerangs (1) return to some given
spot, (2) pass through a ring suspended in mid air (3) hit certain defined objects,
or (4) fall into various receptacles or positions variously placed.
Dated this 20th day of May 1890.
R. OWEN ALLSOP.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Game.
I, ROBERT OWEN ALLSOP, of 37, Norfolk Street, Strand, London, in the
County of Middlesex, Architect, 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 or improved game played with miniature boomerangs formed in imitation
of the boomerangs used as implements of chase and sport by the aborigines of
Australia, the said miniature boomerangs being caused to fly into the air and return
to or near the position from which they were discharged by placing them upon a
suitable pedestal or support, and flipping or striking them with a small piece of
cane or with a stick or rod of any suitable material.
In carrying out this my invention I employ a pedestal of suitable height, prefer-
ably about one foot, constructed of wood or any other suitable materials, and
consisting of a stand or foot-piece, an upright, and a top. This top-piece I
preferably form in the shape of a button, about one inch in diameter, and inclined,
in relation to the upright of the pedestal, at such an angle as I find causes the
boomerangs, when struck, to fly and return after the manner of the real Australian
boomerang. I make the angle of this inclined plate or button fixed or adjustable
as may be desirable, but ordinarily I place the smooth, upper surface of the button
at an angle of about 20° to the horizontal. I also make the upright of the pedestal
adjustable, in respect to height, in desirable cases.
On the table or support upon which this game is played, I place a cloth of
suitable material and size, or a sheet of paper with a diagram printed thereon, the
said cloth or paper being for the purpose of determining the score of each player.
For preference I make this provision in the shape of a cloth of green baize, circular
in form, about 18 inches in diameter, and having a concentric circle marked upon
it, about six inches in diameter. This cloth I place at a convenient distance from
the edge of the table or other stand upon which the game is played; and in the
centre of the cloth I place the above-described pedestal.
Upon the sloping button or top of this pedestal I place one or more of the
miniature boomerangs in such position as my experience of the game tells me is
best to ensure an accurate flight and return.. The boomerangs I construct of any
suitable material, preferably thin cardboard, varying them in respect to outline and
angle just as the Australian boomerangs are varied in outline and angle. Thèse
boomerangs I make either quite flat or twist and mould to any desirable shape, and
of any size, preferably measuring about two and a half inches from end to end. In
making these boomerangs in large quantities I employ steel dies with which to
stamp them out of cardboard. The shape of the boomerang I ordinarily employ .I
show in the accompanying drawings.
Placing one of the miniature boomerangs, thus formed, on the top-plate or button
of the pedestal, and with one of its ends projecting over the button, I strike the
projecting end with a piece of cane, or with a stick or rod of any suitable material,
in the direction of the angle at which the button is inclined. For the striking, or
flipping, I use, for preference, a thin piece of bamboo cane, about six inches in
length. Holding one end of this striker or flipper between the finger and thumb of
the right hand, and steadying the other end by gentle pressure of the first finger of

page_text: the left hand, by an increased pressure of the thumb of the right hand I cause the
stick or rod to slip from under the finger of the left hand, and thus strike against
the end of the boomerang, which operation, if deftly performed, causes the
boomerang to fly forwards and upwards, revolving the while about its centre of
gravity, and returning nearer to, or farther from the pedestal, according as it is
struck in a skilful or unskilful manner.
The flight of the boomerang depends (1) on the position in which it is placed on
the inclined button, and (2) on the manner of striking it with the cane, rod, or
flipper. In acquiring a knowledge of these effects the skill of the player consists.
The boomerang being formed with one arm slightly longer than the other, is best
placed on the button with this arm to the right hand side, and with its concave
edge towards the player. I find that the best flights are attained when this arm is
struck. It must therefore project a little over the button, as shown in the
accompanying drawings. Gentleness and delicacy of touch is the great desideratum
in discharging the boomerangs. The stroke should not be made until the cane rod.
or flipper has been brought in contact, or nearly in contact, with the arm of the
boomerang.
In playing this game, the players, two or more in number, successively discharge
a given number of boomerangs, preferably one dozen, and according to where they
return and fall on or near the cloth, within or without the ring or rings marked
thereon, the score of each player is made. The closer the boomerang returns to
the pedestal the more points the player gains. The simplest and best way of
playing this game consists in endeavouring to so strike the boomerangs as to cause
them, in their return flight, to fall as near as possible to the pedestal; but, as
variations on this game, I arrange that the object of the player may be that the
boomerangs (1) return to some given spot, (2) pass through a ring suspended
from the ceiling, (3) hit certain defined objects, or (4) fall into various receptacles,
variously placed.
In order that the invention may be more readily understood I have illustrated it
with the accompanying drawings, of which Fig. 1, is a view of the various parts of
the game placed on a table. A, is the pedestal, of which a, b, and c, are respectively
the inclined button, or top-piece, the upright, and the stand, or foot-piece; d, is the
striking-rod, or flipper; e, e, e, are some of the miniature boomerangs, on the
circular scoring-cloth, f; and g, is a boomerang in position on the inclined button.
At B, is one of the boomerangs on an enlarged scale, showing the shape I ordinarily
employ. Fig. 2, shows the manner of holding the cane flipper, or striking-rod,
preparatory to striking the boomerang. d, is the flipper, and the pedestal A, is
shown in elevation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is:
1. The use of miniature boomerangs in connection with a pedestal, striking-rod
or flipper, and scoring cloth, substantially as described in the above Specification
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. The use of a pedestal, striking-rod or Hipper, and scoring-cloth in connection
with miniature boomerangs, substantially as described and illustrated.
3. The use of a pedestal, striking-rod or flipper, and scoring cloth in connection
with the flipping or striking of miniature boomerangs, substantially as described
and illustrated.
4. The act of flipping miniature boomerangs in connection with a pedestal,
striking-rod or flipper, and scoring-cloth, substantially as described and illustrated.
5. The new or improved ganie hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this Thirteenth day of February 1891