A New Game and Apparatus for Playing the same.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Mar., 1889-Accepted, 15th June; 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New Game and Apparatus for Playing the same.
CONSTANCE AMELIA HARTSHORNE Bradbourne Hall Wirksworth Derbyshire
Gentlewoman 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 :-
My invention relates to means or apparatus for playing a Game which I call "By
Hook or by Crook" and which said game is intended for outdoor use.
My apparatus consists of a set or sets of painted or varnished posts made of ash or
deal or any other suitable material with bent crooks attached thereto forming open
spaces or loops of say about five and a half inches at the widest part thereof made of
ash or any other pliable material and such posts being sharpened shod or otherwise
prepared for driving into the ground or fixing into sockets in the case of a hard
surface being played upon so that they may stand upright. A single post having on
the top a depression for sustaining a ball attached to it by a loose string line or cord
of silk hemp or other convenient material. A post or stake with reel or winder on
the top working on a pin of iron or other convenient or fitting material and kept in
place by a cap nut or thumbscrew or other convenient means on the top of the same
the reel or winder holding a lasso line or string with a ball attached thereto.
A post
with two scoring dials attached to the upper part thereof and having a small book on
the top of the same to receive the lasso when placed thereon. A set or sets of hooks
of iron or other convenient metal through which to pass the lasso during the progress
of the game.
With reference to the accompanying drawings and to the figures thereon it will be
seen that the plan shows the arrangement for the game as to be played by four players
and that the other drawings show the apparatus for one set the same being repeated
for four players which is the number I prefer.
Fig. I shows a convenient method for placing the crooks posts stakes-and-hooks
used in the game for four players the number which I prefer.
Fig. II is an elevation of one of the crooks used to throw the ball through of which
crooks I prefer to use when four persons are playing twenty four in number.
Fig. III is an elevation of one of the posts with a depression or dimple A on the
top showing the ball B thereon and the string (attached of which posts I prefer to
use when four persons are playing four in number.
Fig. IV is an elevation of one of the stakes D with wheel or winder E to carry
lasso F of which stakes 1 prefer to use when four persons are playing four in
number.
Fig. V is an elevation of one of the hooks through which the lasso is passed during
the progress of the game of which hooks I prefer to use when four persons are playing
twelve in number.
Fig. VI is an elevation of one of the posts with two dials G. G₁ for scoring the game
and having a small hook H on the top to receive the lasso when placed thereon of
which posts I prefer to use when four persons are playing four in nuinber.
Fig. VII is part elevation of side of same.
The game is played by a number of persons and may be generally described as con-
sisting in throwing a ball attached to a lasso and reeling off a winder on a stake
through certain crooks and under certain conditions passing threading or linking the
lasso through certain hooks and finally knocking a ball off a depression or dimple on a
post finding the missing link and scoring according to success or otherwise.
Referring to the accompanying drawings the crooks posts hooks etc. are placed on
the courts already marked out in the positions indicated by the numerals on plan
Figure 1-2 being the crooks, 3 the dimple posts, 4 the winder posts, 5 the hooks, and

page_text: 6 the scoring post. Players stand near the winding posts 4, and each taking a ball in
one hand unwinds or reels off a sufficient length of cord or lasso to enable then to
throw the ball the cord being gathered up in any convenient way. The ball is then
thrown forward and through the loops on the crooks 2, the object being to throw the
ball at one throw through as many as possible. If the player is successful in throwing
the ball through the three crooks on the first division of the court at one throw he
again takes up the ball and unreeling sufficient cord or lasso attempts to throw the
said ball through the next two crooks which are not in the same line as the others.
If successful here he proceeds to throw through the last crook and if possible knock
the ball B off the dimple A on the dimple post 3. If he succeeds in this he puts his
lasso through the hook H on the scoring post thus completing his score and finding
the "Missing Link."
Should the player fail to pass his ball through the different sets at one throw he
hooks bis lasso or cord under the hook 5 between the crook he has passed and the one
he has fa.led to pass thus making the next throw more difficult on account of the
extra strain on the lasso by reason of the hook.
The rules shew the method of scoring. -
The following rules for the game are such as I prefer to use when played by four
persons by means of the apparatus hereinbefore described such rules being liable to
alteration as may be found desirable.
1. Three aims each, round.
2. Three rounds to a game.
3. To win the game is to score 7 or the highest score.
4. First set of three crooks each crook counts
Second set of two crooks, each crook counts
Third set of one crook and Dimple counts
4
12
3 =
6
7.
5. If the player gets through the first set of three crooks he scores 12.
If the player gets through the first and drops at the second crook he counts 4 and
"Hooks it" which deducts L 3.
If the player gets through the two Crooks but drops at the third Crook he counts 8
and "Hooks it" which deducts 1
-
7.
If the player misses all the Crooks in the first set he goes on to aim for the second
set being weighted by the Lasso which he may not now gather up.
6. In the second set if the player gets through the set he scores 6 but if he drops
at the second crook he counts 3 and "Hooks it" which deducts 1 = 2.
If he misses all the Crooks in the second set he goes on to aim for the third set
being weighted by the Lasso as before.
7. In the third set if the player gets through the first Crook and knocks the ball off
the "Dimple" he finds the "Missing Link" and scores 7 puts his Lasso through
it and marks his complete score on the Dials.
8. If the player misses the first Crook or takes the first Crook and misses the ball
on the "Dimple" he deducts 3 from his score and marks his complete score on the
Dials.
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-
The means or apparatus herein described or illustrated by the accompanying
drawings for playing a new game preferably for outdoor use.
Dated this 1st day of March 1889.
CONSTANCE AMELIA HARTSHORNE.