Apparatus for Playing a New Game.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 2nd July, 1891-Accepted, 29th Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Playing a New Game.
1 FREDERICK EDWARD VERNEY TAYLOR of the Barracks Derby Captain of
the 2nd Derbyshire Regiment do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows
:―
The new game may be played by any number of people, two or more in partner-
ship is best, on a board two feet square, or any convenient size, divided down the
centre by a line, marked by a distinguishing sign at intervals, on which will be
placed a number of ninepins (generally an unequal number).
These may be set up in various ways as pegs fixing into the board with shallow
cups on their upper ends, on which balls may be placed, or as ninepins standing of
themselves and not attached to the board.
The board will have spaces marked at the corners and at the edges opposite the
row, or rows of ninepins or pegs supporting balls.
The players will each be provided with two counters, sides having different
colours.
One counter will be larger than the other, the use of the larger one being to
press the edge of the smaller and in that way force it across the board and strike
against the ninepins, or pegs bearing the balls, the object being to knock down the
ninepins, or cause the balls to fall from the pegs.
The side which knocks down the greater number of ninepins or balls will win
the game.
Partners will generally play on the same side of the board.
Counters will be used as often as required until the completion of the game, & be
played from the spaces.
Several variations of the game may afford further scope for the exercise of
skill viz.
(1) By altering the arrangement of the ninepins or pegs with balls from a single
row, to more dense or scattered formations.
(2) By introducing two rows of pins or pegs with balls, having a net or obstacle
between them.
The ninepins or pegs with balls on the opponent's side of the net being aimed at,
the counters being forced over the net or obstacle to strike the balls or ninepins on
the other side.
Any ninepins or balls accidentally knocked down on the players own side of the
net, will be credited to the opponent's score.
Dated this 14th day of April 1891.
FREDERICK EDWARD VERNEY TAYLOR.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Playing a New Game.
I, FREDERICK EDWARD VERNEY TAYLOR, of the Barracks, Derby, in the
County of Derby, a Captain in the 2nd Battalion of the Derbyshire Regiment,
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 relates to apparatus for playing a new game, in which a con-
siderable amount of skill can be attained by the players.

page_text: The apparatus for playing the game consists of a board, a number of ninepins or
other pieces to be placed on spots or other distinguishing marks or signs on the
board, and a large and small counter, or a large counter and a small ball for each
player. The game may be played by any suitable number of players either
independently or in partnerships of two or more as found convenient, the number of
players being limited by the size of the board, or by the number of playing
counters or pieces used. The object of the game is to strike or knock down one or
more of the ninepins or other pieces with the small counter or ball which is flipped
or projected by means of the large counter.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure is a plan of a board adapted for playing the game and variations
thereof.
Figure 2 shews a plan of the playing counters, and
Figure 3 is an elevation of a ninepin.
Figures 2 and 3 are drawn on a larger scale than Figure 1.
The board is made of any convenient size and is provided with a number of
depressions, spots, rings, or other distinguishing marks, or signs A arranged in a
straight line across the centre of the board. Two other rows of distinguishing
marks D and E may be provided for playing variations of the game. The said
rows D and are parallel with an equidistant from the central row of distinguishing
marks A. Each of the spots or other marks A is coloured or lettered red, and the
spots or marks on the rows D and E are coloured or lettered in the order shewn by
the words written thereunder on the drawing, as red, white, green, yellow, &c.
At a suitable distance from each of the sides which are parallel to the central row
of distinguishing marks A, is a baulk line be, e, parallel to the sides B C
and B' C. Each corner may if desired be marked off with a baulk line d e, either
in lieu of, or in addition to the side baulk lines and c'.
The sides of the board are preferably raised slightly to prevent the pieces
rolling or falling off.
The pieces used are made of wood, hone, ivory, or other suitable material and
are coloured to correspond with the colours or lettering in the rows A, D and E.
The pieces may be balls placed on the spots or depressions or they may be ninepins,
such as is shewn in Figure 3, or other pieces to stand in rings, or other geometrical
figures, or on spots or other marks made on the board. Or they may be pegs
fitting into holes, the said pegs having shallow cups or trays on their upper ends in
which balls or other pieces may be placed.
The playing counters F and G are preferably made of bone, ivory, or other hard
and polished material or composition.
On each side of the playing counters F and G is painted, embossed, stamped,
printed, or otherwise impressed or marked a diametrical line. Accurate aim
can be taken with counters so marked by arranging them so that the diametrical
lines of both the projecting and the projected counter, point in the direction of
the piece aimed at." When balls are used in lien of the small counters the line g
is a circumferential line.
The game is played as follows:-The pieces used are placed in position on their
respective spots, marks, etc. on the board. The players then take turns to play and
all start from one or other of the haulk lines as pre-arranged. The player places
his small counter or ball G in the bank with its line pointing directly towards
the centre of the piece aimed at. He then takes the large counter F between his
finger and thunib and lays its edge on the small enter or ball G in such a position
that the diametrical line of the large counter also points towards the centre of
the piece aimed at. The small comiter or ball G is projected in the desired.
direction by drawing the large counter F smartly back towards the rear edge of
the small counter or ball G thus causing the small counter or ball to be flipped.
jerked, rolled, or otherwise projected in the opposite, . the forward direction. If
desired the edge or part of the edge of the small counter G may be rounded or
bevelled off to cause it to rise, slide, or turn over during its flight. The player or

page_text: side cannoning against or knocking down the greatest number of pieces will win
the game.
Several variations of the game may be introduced to afford further scope for the
exercise of skill by the players. For example the pieces may be grouped or
massed together in the centre of the board in the form of a diamond or triangle, or
a net or other obstacle may be placed across the board over which the players will
be required to project their counters or balls G so as to strike the pieces on the
further side.
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 apparatus herein described for playing a new game consisting of a board
provided with side or corner baulks or both, and having a row or rows of spots,
depressions, rings, or other distinguishing marks or signs coloured or lettered to
indicate the various positions for the pieces; the correspondingly coloured or
lettered balls, ninepins, or other pieces to be placed on the board, and the playing
counters having diametrical lines marked thereon, or a projecting counter having
a diametrical line and a ball with a circumferential line marked thereon, all sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein before set forth and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
(2) For use when playing a game in which ninepins, balls, or other pieces set up
on a suitable board are to be struck or knocked down, the counters F and G formed
or provided with a diametrical line 7 or the counter with a diametrical line
and the ball or spherical body G with a circumferential line thereon, for securing
accuracy of aim when used in the manner substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 2nd day of July 1801
CASTLE SMITH,
Per F. W. Golby,
"Invention" Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.