IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR MARKING OR SCORING AT BILLIARDS, BAGATELLE, AND SIMILAR GAMES, AND FOR REGISTERING www wwDED AD CANDO PRAVEN
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Ollis, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR MARKING OR
SCORING AT BILLIARDS, BAGATELLE, AND SIMILAR GAMES, AND FOR REGISTERING
www wwDED AD CANDO PRAVEN "
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Ollis at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
19th June 1874.
I, THOMAS OLLIS, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
MARKING OR SCORING AT BILLIARDS, BAGATELLE, AND SIMILAR GAMES, AND FOR
REGISTERING THE NUMBER OF GAMES PLAYED," to be as follows:-

page_text: '
The apparatus consists of a dial for each player, each dial being
marked with divisions numbered from 1 to 50 or 100, or other number
to be played for. Each dial is provided with an index, which is caused
to move round the dial to score the points made by the player, or the
dial itself may be made to rotate, the index or pointer being fixed near
its circumference. The rotating index (or the dial, as the case may be)
is carried on a spindle suitably mounted, and is worked by a handle
hung on the same spindle, carrying a ratchet, which engages with a
ratchet wheel on the spindle. This handle is also provided with a
pointer moving over a segment, having divisions numbered from say
1 to 10 or upwards, as found necessary, and by oscillating the handle to
and fro over one or more of such divisions to mark the points as they
are gained the dial index or the dial itself, as the case may be, will be
rotated a corresponding number of divisions to add that number of
points to the score. A pall prevents the index or the dial being moved
in the reverse direction.
When a complete revolution of the dial has been made, and a game
has consequently been completed, a stud on the ratchet wheel or barrel
causes a hammer to strike a bell at the same time that a stop falls into a
notch in the barrel and prevents further rotation until the stop is
released, whereupon a flanged spring or other contrivance comes under
the stop to prevent it falling back into the notch. An arm on the
ratchet wheel or barrel also operates at each revolution, the drivers of a
registering apparatus consisting of a series of number wheels similar to
those of a paging machine, and operated in a somewhat similar manner
to indicate the number of games played.
The whole of the mechanism, with the exception of the handles by
which it is operated, may be enclosed in a suitable case.

page_text: b
an equal number of points round the dial to register the total number of
points scored by several such to-and-fro movements of index D along
segment E. The mechanism by which this is effected consists of a
ratchet' wheel F keyed on the spindle of the index B, having the same
number of teeth as there are numbers round the dial A. The handle C
is hung loose on the same spindle, and has a spring pawl c which
engages with and drives ratchet F, which together with index B will
consequently be rotated to an extent corresponding to that of the move-
ment of handle C. a is another pawl pivoted to the case and engaging
with ratchet wheel F to prevent it being moved backwards by the return
movement of handle C. As the index B moves over the last division
before completing a revolution of the dial a projecting lug 6 on a barrel
G, fixed to ratchet wheel F, strikes the tail end of a lever H pivoted
at to the case, and provided at it's other end with a hammer, which is
caused by the recoil of a spring & attached to lever H to strike a bell I ;
also fixed to case e is an india-rubber stop to throw the hammer off
the bell after it has struck a blow. At the same instant that lever H is
oscillated a study on barrel G strikes and oscillates a lever K pivoted at
k to the case and connected to the drivers of a series of wheels
having numbers on their peripherics like a paging machine, whereby
these wheels are actuated, and a unit is added to the total exhibited by
these wheels at an opening L in the front of the case to denote the
number of revolutions of the index B over the dial, and consequently
the number of games of 50 played. ² is a detent or stop pivoted loosely
to the case, which falls into a notch in the periphery of barrel G when
the index B has made a complete revolution in order to prevent another
game being commenced without the knowledge of the marker or other
person in charge when the apparatus is used in a public room or where
the use of the table is to be paid for by the number of games played,
but this control may be dispensed with in apparatus for private usc.
The detent can only be released from the notch by turning a rod M
by means of a key inserted through a keyhole in the casing, said rod
being mounted in bearings, and provided with an arm m, to which is
attached a cord connected to the detent 2. When the detent is raised
it is prevented from falling again into the notch by a spring a fixed on
the barrel, and having a lip or flange with an oblique edge, which is
brought by the rotation of the barrel against the detent, and the
spring is forced back, but immediately the detent is raised the spring is
released and the lip or flange covers the notch.

page_text: To score games of more than 50 I provide an endless band N marked
50, and each additional 50 up to 1000. This band passes over rollers, as
shown, detached in side view, Figure 3, and is turned by a handle to
exhibit a fresh number at an opening P in the front of the case. In
this way games of 1000 may be played, cach increment of 50 scored by 5
revolution of the index B over the dial being. added to the total by
shifting the band N. The spindle of the upper roller carries a ratchet
wheel ', with which a pawl k² engages to prevent the roller from being
put back.
Having thus described the nature of the Invention and the manner
of performing the same, I declare that what I claim as my Invention to
be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The combination of mechanism (excluding the bands N) such
as shown and described for the purpose specified.
1
Secondly. The combination with numbered dial A, index B, and 1
ratchet F of handle C, with pawl c and index D moving over a corre-
sponding number segment E, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
Thirdly. The combination with dial A, index B, ratchet wheel F, and
barrel G of stud g, lever K, and registering apparatus ¹, 1, substantially 20
as and for the purpose specified.
Fourthly. The combination with dial A, index B, and barrel G of the
detent, flanged spring x, and the releasing mechanism, substantially
as and for the purpose shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Ollis, have hereunto set 2
my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.