An Electrical Billiard Marking Repeater and Indicator.
Year: 1887

page_text: An Electrical Billiard Marking Repeater and Indicator.
I, GEORGE WILLIAM HOOK of Lascotts Road, Wood Green in the County of
Middlesex, Telegraph Engineer and Electrician, 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 an Electrical Billiard Marking Repeater and Indicator
for electrically indicating at any distance from the billiard room the progress of the
game from the unit 1 to any figure.
This repeating indicator is designed not only to supply a want felt at many of the
larger billiard rooms where the progress of the game may be watched by gentlemen
in a coffee room or any other room at a distance from the billiard table where
conversation would not interrupt the players, but is meant to supply a want greatly
felt by Publicans and hotel proprietors as a cheek against the billiard room attendant:
the indicator being fixed at the bar or some other convenient spot where the
proprietor could see, and note, how many games are being played.
This indicator fixed in a conspicuous part of the bar would prove a most attractive
advertisement. The appliance can be adapted to existing marking boards.
It cannot be tampered with by any person in the billiard room and the marker in
moving the pointer on the board cannot possibly avoid repeating the move on the
indicator.
In order that this invention may be more clearly understood I hereto annex a sheet
of drawings illustrative thereof.
Figure 1. represents an ordinary billiard marking board with the addition of the
top portion, which could be made separate, giving an electrical press button A and a
pointer marking 50 up, 100 up, 1000 up, &c. &c.
Fig. 2. represents the indicator, all the square windows are blank until the com-
mencement of a game. When a game is commenced if it is to be 100 up, the
attendant presses the button A which being in electrical connection with the
bell B Fig. 2 this calls the attention of the proprietor or others that a game has
commenced.
The attendant then moves the pointer to 100 up, which move is repeated on the
indicator in the space over which is marked 100 up, (the figures on the indicator in

page_text: the drawings are merely to show what would appear in the square spaces below
the figures.)
As the attendant moves the pointer on the board so the various numbers are
indicated to the end of the game.
Figuro 3 is a side view of the pointer. S. S. are metal springs attached above
and below the slot in which the pointer works. P is the pointer faced with metal.
Figure 4 is a back view of a portion of the marking board shewing the pointer
when at rest, and the contact springs S, S, open. From the contact springs S, S two
wires are carried to an electro-magnet E which is also in circuit with a galvanic
battery B. To the armature A of the electro magnet is attached the indicating
figure I which rises or falls as the current passes through or is cut off from the
electro magnet E.
Figure shews the position of the pointer when marking 50 points. The pointer P
presses against, and makes contact with the springs S. S, this puts in connection
through the wires, the battery B and the electro magnet E, the latter attracts the
armature A which raises the indicating figure to one of the spaces in the indicator
(figure 2.)
The marking board used is of the ordinary pattern as at present in use, that is to
say a moveable pointer works in a groove along the face of a board on which the
several figures are painted.
As the game proceeds the person who marks for the players, moves the pointer
along the board until it is opposite the number of points made, and the pointer
remains there until a further number of points are made.
In my invention I use the same description of marking board but at the back of
the board opposite each figure are placed two contact springs, as shown in the sketch.
In their normal condition these springs are apart. When the pointer on the face
of the board is moved to mark any number of points made by a player, the back of
the pointer presses between the beforementioned springs, placing them in metalic
contact.
To each of these springs a wire is attached leading to an Electro Magnet in the
Indicator case, and also to a galvanic battery. To the Armature of the Magnet a
disc is attached having marked on its face a figure corresponding to the figure on
the marking board, behind which the contact springs are fixed. The circuit being
closed by the back of the pointer pressing between the contact springs, a current
flows through the Electro Magnet, which attracts the Armature, and thus brings the
disc up to a space on the indicator, showing the number of points made.
The number remains on the indicator, until another move has been made, and this
process is repeated to the end of the game.
For each figure on the marking board there is a corresponding Electro Magnet
and disc in the indicator.
As the pointer passes from one figure to another, the current is cut off from the
last figure made allowing the disc to fall out of sight.
:-
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
The electrical billiard marking repeater and indicator as herein shown and
described.
D
Antahan 1007
HUGHES & SON,
5, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.