Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 27th Jan., 1900
A communication by AUGUST WASMUTH, of 2, Neuerwall, Hamburg, in the
Empire of Germany, Manufacturer.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., Agent for Foreign Patent
Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in the
County of Lancaster, 118, New Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
and 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, 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 invention has for its object a new table-game to which the inventor pro-
poses to give the name of "Salta," and it consists of a board, arranged like a
chess-board, with 100 squares, 30 numbered counters or pieces, and a rod to
move the pieces.
Adjacent squares of the board are distinguished from each other by different
colors, so that each light square adjoins a dark square, while in the diagonal
directions, similarly colored squares touch at the points.
According to the rules of the game, which is played by two persons, each
player has 15 counters or pieces of the same color to show that they belong to-
gether, but a different color is used for each player, for example the numbers
on 15 pieces may be on a red or dark background, whilst those on the other 15
pieces may be on a green or light ground; or, to put it another way, the num-
bers on 15 pieces may be painted in red, and those on the other 15 in green.
The 15 pieces serve to occupy 3 rows of the same colored squares. The pieces
bear numbers in such a way as to have à double purpose:-Firstly:-The char-
acter of the numbers shows that they belong to certain rows; secondly: the
value of the numbers shows the order and succession of the pieces. This double
purpose is attained by impressing on the pieces from 1 to 5 points, the points of
each three rows having an easily distinguished form, for instance, the pieces on
the first of the three rows belonging to each player have from 1 to 5 sunshaped
figures, those of the middle row have from 1 to 5 crescentshaped figures, and
those of the row lying next the player, that is the back or third
row, have from
1 to 5 starshaped figures.
"Sun," "Moon,"
According to this arrangement, the rows are signified as
and "Stars," and the counters or pieces as "First Sun," "Second Sun," etc.
The signs or characters shown in Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, of the accom-
panying drawings, represent the surfaces of the middle pieces of the three rows;
the different colors of the pieces and the true position of the pieces or counters
is not taken into consideration in the drawing.
This kind of numeration, which facilitates for beginners in "Salta" the survey
of one's own and the opponent's counters and at the same time simplifies the

page_text: game itself, can be supplied with figures from 1 to 15 for the pieces or counters
of every player, where the simplification of the game is not otherwise attained.
The figures are then placed double on each counter, so that each opponent sees
a figure right-side up, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings.
This numeration with figures is found on the back of the counters, marked
respectively Sun," "Moon," and.".Star."
The rules belonging and peculiar to this game are as follows:-The pieces of
the players are to be moved to the opponent's side. The pieces can only be moved
in procession from field to field, also backwards; if one of the opponent's pieces
stands before that of the person playing and the following square is free, a
forced spring forward is made.
The final position of the pieces on the squares formerly occupied by the opponent
must correspond to the original arrangement with which the game started.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. A table game adapted to be played according to the rules described, consist-
ing of a board resembling a chess-board, containing 100 divisions or squares,
and 30 counters or pieces, each distinguished by the character and number of
different points placed on them, for example: sun, moon, stars and different
colors upon differently colored grounds, such as 15 counters on red, and 15 on
green, substantially as described.
2. The particular form of play of this improved game consisting in 15 counters
provided with double figures on the same surface of each counter being moved
in opposite directions, in accordance with the character and value of each piece,
both surfaces being marked with corresponding signs, substantially as described.
Doted this 18th day of December 1899