IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MARKING OR SCORING AT BILLIARDS, POOL, PYRAMIDS, AND OTHER SIMILAR GAMES, AND FOR INDICATING THE NUMBER OF GAMES PLAYED
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Hunt, of Southsea, in the County of
Southampton, Mechanist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR MARKING OR SCORING AT BILLIARDS, POOL, PYRAMIDS, AND
OTHER SIMILAR GAMES, AND FOR INDICATING THE NUMBER OF GAMES
PLAYED."
Sealed the 10th February 1874, and dated the 15th August 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Hunt at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
15th August 1878.
I, WILLIAM HUNT, of Southsea, in the County of Southampton,
Mechanist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MARKING OR SCORING AT BILLIARDS, POOL,
PYRAMIDS, AND OTHER SIMILAR GAMES, AND FOR INDICATING THE NUMBER OF
GAMES PLAYED," to be as follows:-
Marking boards of the above description as usually constructed are
only capable of recording the respective scores of the several players for
their guidance, but have no facility or means of recording or registering

page_text: I
the number of games that may have been played as a check upon the
marker and for the proprietors guidance and security (at the commence-
ment of each of which for the use of the table it is the usual practice
that a certain fee or payment should be made), which it will readily be
seen allows of a dishonest attendant furnishing to the proprietor an
incorrect statement of the earnings at the table.
The object of the present Invention is therefore to provide in addition
to the said means for recording the scores of the players a means of
automatically registering or recording the number of games that have
been played, or in other words the number of times the table has been
used, for the payment on each of which the marker has subsequently to
account to the proprietor.
As the said fee by general practice and custom is paid or due at or
before the commencement of the game, and whether the latter is con-
tinued to its end or not, I have constructed my improved apparatus so
that as soon as the first score in each game is made and recorded the
apparatus automatically registers one more time the table has been used,
for which therefore the marker will have to account.
The apparatus may be made in a variety of forms or shapes, but for
simplicity I prefer that its face should be square. At the upper and
lower parts I place rollers with numbers for scoring at the games of
billiards and pyramids, painted or otherwise placed upon them in
suitable order. Upon these rollers are recorded the scores of the players
by means of sliding pointers which can be set to any of the numbers
which I prefer to place in parallel rows thereupon, say from 1 to 20 the
first row, from 20 to 40 the second, and so on, only one of which
however is visible at a time, and at such time faces a slot or opening in
the front of the case, the roller being turned by the marker when
necessary by an exterior knob or handle.
On one end of each roller is a ratchet wheel which engages with a
pawl spring or catch attached to the case and prevents fraud in turning
the roller, so that it cannot be turned in the wrong direction. At the
same end of each roller there is also placed a lever which engages at
the commencement of each revolution of the roller (indicating the com-
mencement of a fresh game) with one of ten teeth on a unit wheel
which has units marked on its face, and one of which only at a time is
visible through a dial hole in the face of the apparatus, and at the com-

page_text: mencement of each revolution of the roller therefore moves forward the
unit wheel to show a higher number by one.
On one of these teeth is a projecting pin which engages at each
revolution of the unit wheel with one of ten similar teeth on a tens
wheel which is also provided with Figures on its face which show
through another dial hole, and by these means any number of games up
to (say) 99, is automatically recorded without the possibility of fraud
on the part of the marker or any unauthorized person.
If required the ten's wheel may similarly engage with a hundred's
wheel, and so on, to register any number of games, but the above
arrangement is preferred as being sufficient.
At the opposite end of each roller is a projection, which when the
roller is not in use or at the end of each game holds in a slot in a spring
blade or lock, and thus prevents fraud on the marker during his absence
as the said lock can only be opened by a key which he retains. In
somewhat a similar manner the units and tens wheel at the first
mentioned end when they indicate (say) 99 games lock each other
(preventing movement either way, which thus provides for the proprietors
security), the key for opening which he retains, so that before the
marking board can be used again he must of necessity unlock the wheels.
Between these upper and lower billiard and pyramid marking rollers
and on either side of a central slate are placed the "life slides" used in
the game of pool, which are secured when not in use by spring stud
locks which can only be opened by a key through a slit in the front of
each slide by the marker, and are provided for his protection and
security. As is well known to players at pool each player starts with
"three lives," and in the event of his losing them all he has the option
by paying the fee for the use of the table again of “starring," that is
of putting himself on an equality with any player who shall have the
least number of "lives" left.
When each slide therefore is fully withdrawn or pulled outwards it
exhibits three "life spots," the slide being retained in position by a
set stud, and at each time it is withdrawn (by a button) it operates (by
means of a loose or spring catch on a projecting bar), the projections of
a unit wheel, which in a similar way to that above described operates a
tens wheel, and so records the number of games played through separate
dial holes (two to each slide), and thus protects the proprietor's interests,

page_text: In the event of any player loosing his three lives and wishing to
"star," the marker by a koy fitting on a square sets a separate star
wheel to its dial hole to the lowest number of "lives" of any of the
remaining players, for which the said player pays the whole fee paid, as
if at the commencement of the game, which is recorded in a similar
manner to that above described on the unit dial, and so secures payment
to the proprietor.
The ten's wheels of the pool dials are protected by spring locks, as
above described, which can only be opened by the proprietor after the
full number of games (say 99) have been registered, and for which 1
payment is due from the marker to him. All these locks are under the
control of a central safety lock, which when turned causes all the key-
holes of the pool locks to be closed, and it can only be opened by a
special key in the care of the proprietor.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Hunt in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 14th February 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
HUNT, of Southsea, in the County of Southampton, Mechanist, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Hunt, Her special licence
that I, the said William Hunt, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Hunt, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR MARKING OR SCORING AT ' BILLIARDS,' 'POOL,' ‘PYRAMIDS,' AND OTHER SIMILAR
GAMES, AND FOR INDICATING THE NUMBER OF GAMES PLAYED," upon the con-

page_text: dition (amongst others) that I, the said William Hunt, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the, said William Hunt, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing, and on reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, that is to say :—
Before proceeding to more particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of my said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be
performed, I have to remark that in my Provisional Specification, and
particularly in the two leading paragraphs and in corresponding sentences
I described the nature and object of my Invention to be as follows :—
Marking boards of the above description, as usually constructed, are
only capable of recording the respective scores of the several players for
their guidance, but have no facility or means of recording or registering
the number of games that may have been played, as a check upon the
marker and for the proprietor's guidance and security (at the commence-
ment of each of which, for the use of the table, it is the usual practice
that a certain fee or payment should be made) which it will readily be
seen allows of a dishonest attendant furnishing to the proprietor an
incorrect statement of the earnings at the table.
The object of the present Invention is therefore to provide, in addition
to the said means for recording the scores of the players, a means of
automatically registering or recording the number of games that have
been played, or in other words, the number of times the table has been
used, for the payment on each of which the marker has subsequently to
account to the proprietor.
I have, however, to state that since the lodging of the said Provisional
Specification I have found out that there has been certain devices or
means for effecting the registering of the number of games played in
addition to the registering of the respective scores of the players, but all

page_text: such devices or means have been defective in a main point, inasmuch as
firstly, there has been no self-acting provision for stopping or preventing
the action of the game recording apparatus at any part, so that the
highest number the dials indicate can be overrun, rendering the apparatus
but of the very slightest use, and secondly, all such devices and means
have registered the number of games played at the end of each game.
I therefore wish it to be distinctly understood that I hereby only desiro
to claim as my Invention my improved means and apparatus for effecting
the above mentioned object as herein-after more fully described and
Allstated on the non mnanving Sheet of Drawings

page_text: 56 to 80, and the fifth with numbers running from 81 to 100, and the
centre of a remaining blank row with the number 100.
When the rollers 1, 2, are not in use the blank rows marked 50 and
100 face slots or apertures 3 made in the upper and lower front boards
× of the marking board, the use of these numbers being merely to
distinguish the rollers, the one set from the other. When in use the
rollers are turned by the marker by exterior knobs or handles 4 as usual,
and the rows of numbers, one at a time, then face the slots 3, and thus
become seen.
The rollers 1 are shown as being of shorter length than the rollers 2,
but they may all be made of an equal length longer or shorter as
desired.
The rollers 1 are used in scoring the scores of the players in the
games of "50 billiards," and of "pyramids,” and the rollers 2 are used
in scoring the scores of the players in the game of "100 billiards,” the
scores in either case being marked by separate or double fingered sliding
pointers 5, an adaptation of those hitherto in use.
The object I have in arranging the numbers as above is to allow of
the game of "pyramids " being scored upon the rollers 1 (or 2) without
the possibility of the proprietor of the table being defrauded by the
"marker," or any other person of the proper and full amount of the
earnings at or charges for the use of his table in playing this game.
46
"
The following brief description may suffice to render the advisability
of thus arranging the numbers more apparent:-In the game of
pyramids there are fifteen balls placed upon the table, and one
of a different colour is used with which to play, and he who succeeds
first in "pocketting" the greater half (viz., eight) of the fifteen balls
wins the game. Now if as usual the numbers run in parallel rows
of 20 each up to 100, it would still be as it has hitherto been possible
for the marker to mark the scores of the players at the game of
pyramids "
upon the first row of numbers in any number of
successive games without it being at all necessary for him to turn
the roller upon which he is marking, and he might thus defraud
the proprietor of any proportion of the takings, but by arranging the
numbers as above it is absolutely necessary that the marker should
turn the rollor he uses to the second row of figures, in order to mark
the number (namely, eight) necessary to win this game, and as all
66

page_text: and pawl, or any other means usually employed, he is compelled to
turn the rollers he uses completely round in order to be able to commence
to mark the score of any succeeding game.
Now one of the main objects of my Invention is to register auto-
matically each such movement of any of the rollers 1, 2, at the very
commencement before any of the numbered rows become seen through
the slots 3, and consequently before any score can be marked there-
upon.
I would here again draw attention to what I have above referred
to, viz., that since the filing of my said Provisional Specification I
have found that this object of registering the rotation of the roller
(but only impart as far as I have at present described it) has been
previously obtained by the employment of very intricate and easily
dorangeable apparatus, but (and this is where the uselessness of such
apparatus becomes apparent) in whatever form it has been applied
it has always registered the movement of the roller at its end, that
is, at the completion of a game. (I would here remark that the fee
for the use of the table by general practice and custom is paid or
due at or before the commencement of a game, and whether it is
continued to its end or not), so that if a game is not continued to
its end there is (in some cases, which will be readily seen) no absolute
necessity for a dishonest marker to turn the roller completely round
to register a game as having been played (it will therefore be seen
how readily he could defraud the proprietor of a considerable proportion
of the charges for the use of his table in playing these games), and
this serious defect, in connection with the faulty system of marking
the single rollers, as hitherto, has rendered all combined marking and
registering apparatus as hitherto made of but little more value than
the cost of the materials, and of their combination and erection. In
another respect all such combined apparatus are absolutely wanting
in the provision of a certain means in all cases essentially necessary
for the perfection thereof, or indeed to render it of any serviceable
use, and the provision of such means hitherto wanting forms a most
distinguishing or characteristic feature of my Invention, and will be
in due course described hereafter. I will therefore now proceed to
describe the means by which I automatically register any game (as

page_text: having been played) at its commencement, and so as to overcome the
above numerous disadvantages.
At one (or both) of the ends of the spindle 6 of each roller 1, 2,
I place a lever 7 or equivalent lifting device which I adjust so that
at the commencement of each revolution of its roller (indicating the
commencement of a fresh game) it engages with one of ten teeth
on a "unit wheel" 8, see Figures 1 and 2, the latter of which is
a side elevation partly in section. Each wheel 8 is provided on its
face with a dial 9 which moves therewith, and has unit figures marked
upon its face, and one of which only at a time is visible through
a dial hole 10 protected by glass, and made in the face of a panel 11.
By this means it will be seen that at the commencement of each
revolution of any of the rollers 1, 2, the lever 7 belonging thereto
moves forward the wheel 8 in connection therewith one tooth, and
thereby causes its dial 9 to show a higher figure or number by one
through its dial hole 10. One tooth of each wheel 8 I make or
provide with a projection 12 which engages at each revolution of
the wheel 8 (indicating the commencement of a tenth game) with
one of ten similar teeth on a "ten's wheel" 13, which is similarly
provided with a figured dial 14, the figures on which are visible one
at a time through a dial hole 15 in the same panel 11 alongside,
and to the left of the holes 10. As the figures on the dials 9, 14,
thus show double it is obvious that by the above arrangement they
will automatically register and show any number up to 99 without
the possibility of fraud or alteration on the part of the marker or
any unauthorized person. Until these dials do register that number
(viz., 99) the rollers 1, 2, in connection therewith are under the entire
charge and control of the marker (as will presently appear), so that
till they reach that number neither the proprietor or any other person
can use or move them, or alter the dials in connection therewith; this
it will be seen is necessary for the marker's protection, and in order
that he may not be defrauded.
This object I attain by providing the opposite end of the spindle 6 of
each roller 1, 2, with a pin, stud, or projection 16, which when the roller
is not in use and at the termination of each rotation thereof catches and
holds in a slot in or against the free end of a spring locking blade or
catch 17, which can only be released or opened by a special key (passed
through a side keyhole 18), which the marker retains so as to release

page_text: the roller to allow of another rotation in order to mark the scores of the
players in a succeeding game.
Now if as I have previously mentioned it were not for the means I
have provided and above called special attention to as being one of my
salient improvements, it would still be as it has hitherto been possible
for the marker to defraud the proprietor by overrunning the highest
number the registering apparatus indicates and recommencing with the
units; this will be readily seen. But I have rendered fraud in this way
impossible by causing the wheels 8, 13, to lock each other when their
dials indicate their highest number (namely 99), which thus prevents
any movement of the rollers thus locked until the proprietor has released
the said wheels by a special key (passed through side keyholes 19), which
he retains, so that fraud on the proprietor is also rendered impossible.
This characteristic feature (of which all other combined marking and
registering apparatus has been wanting) I attain by forming a slot hole :
or recess 20 in the boss of each tens' wheel, in which slot each time it
comes opposite a certain point (indicating the 99th or terminating move-
ment of the unit's wheel), there enters a locking pin 21 secured to or
forming part of a spring blade or lock 22, and which can only be with-
drawn from the slot (see Figure 2) by the said key (immediately above
mentioned), which the proprietor retains, and which withdrawal again
releases the wheels, and consequently the rollers, and allows of the
commencement of a succeeding series of games. It will thus be scen
that every game played is of necessity registered so that the marker
cannot but account for all fees due to the proprietor.
I would here remark that the number 99 is merely chosen as being a
convenient and sufficient number, but by applying other similar wheels
(provided on their faces with "hundred's dials") and working them from
the ten's wheels in the manner above described I can register any
number of games consecutively up to 999, and so on, the necessary limit
being fixed at any required number in any case the hundreds or highest
wheel would be locked.
The locking of these wheels may be effected by similar means to
those hereafter described in connection with the pool registering
arrangement.

page_text: be kept well up to their work by small springs fitted in recesses in the
rear of their bosses, so that however sharply they may be actuated they
cannot possibly be moved more than one tooth at each movement. A
similar action is obtained on the ten's (or hundred's) wheels by the
pressure of the locking pins of the springs described in connection with
each.
That part of the marking board between the above billiard and
pyramid marking rollers 1, 2, I leave as usual, except that in one modifi-
cation I substitute a smaller slate 23 for the usual central one filling up
the space between the opposite life slides 24 so as to leave a space on
each side of it between it and the slides.
One of my improvements on the arrangement of this part of the
marking board as hitherto constructed consists in securing the life slides
24 separately when not in use by small spring stud locks, an adaptation
of those used to secure the rollers above, which can only be opened by a
key retained by the marker through a slit in the front of each slide, and
are provided for his security. Or in lieu of this arrangement and in
order to render this part of the apparatus more simple in construction I
secure the ends of all the slides 24 by hinged flaps or doors 25 (one to
each set of slides), each of which I secure by a lock 26, the key of
which the marker retains.
As is well known to players at "pool" each player starts with three
lives, which are indicated by his life slide being fully withdrawn so as
to exhibit three "life spots," and in the event of his losing them all, in
which event his life spots are covered, as he loses his lives by his slide
being pushed in by the marker, he has the option by paying the fee for
the use of the table again of "starring or putting himself on an
equality with any remaining player who has the least number of "lives"
left, his slide then being again withdrawn to uncover the proper number
) of life spots.
The right half of Figure 1 illustrates the slides withdrawn to uncover
different numbers of life spots.
Another improvement I make upon the above arrangement consists in
retaining each slide 24 as long as desired in its most outward position
5 by a press stud 27, by pressing which the marker releases a projection 28
affixed to a spring blade 29 at the back of the board (see detached view,

page_text: Figure 3) from a hole corresponding in position in the slide, and allows
of the latter being moved inwards to cut off the necessary number of
spots or lives lost. The first part of this cutting-off movement, that
necessary to cut off or cause the slide to cover one spot, I cause to be
effected by a spring 30, placed at its rear, and adjusted at just sufficient
tension (see Figure 3) to cause the said movement when the slide is
released by pressure on its stud 27, the rest of the movement of the slide,
that necessary to cut off the remaining two lives I effect by hand, as
usual.
Now in order to register automatically the number of times each slide
has been used, for the payment on each of which the marker has subse-
quently to account to the proprietor, and in order to attain similar
results to those above mentioned, as regards the billiard and pyramid
registering apparatus, I affix to the back of each slide 24 a projecting
bar or rod 31 (the equivalent of the lever or lifting device 7 above
described), the end of which I provide with a loose or spring catch 32,
which, each time the slide is withdrawn, engages with one tooth of
a unit's wheel 33, which in a similar manner to that above described
operates a ten's wheel 34, and records the number of times the slides are
withdrawn, and consequently the games played, the figures on the
dials 35, 36, with which the wheels are respectively provided being
visible through dial holes 37, 38, (two to each slide) covered with glass,
and made in the face of the front board 39.
The bars 31 are guided by pins 40, the lower ones of which act as
checks for preventing the bars being withdrawn more than sufficient to
uncover the three life spots. The pins 41 are for tripping the catches 32
in the return movements of the bars in case they might retain an
inclined position. For similar reasons to those above given for locking
the wheels 8, 13, I secure or lock the wheels 33, 34, (and consequently
prevent the slides being fully withdrawn) when the dials thereupon
indicate 99, by a similar arrangement to that above described for locking
the rollers 1, 2, after each revolution, see y, Figure 1. Or I can lock the
wheels 33, 34, by an arrangement similar to that with which I lock the
wheels 8, 13, placing the spring blades 22 with their locking pin 21 in
a line with the centres of the wheels 33, 34, see Figure 6. The key-
holes 48 of all these locking devices y are closed and protected by a
special arrangement hereafter described. Each wheel 33 is actuated by
its catch 32 immediately before the third life spot is fully exposed, and

page_text: before the slide 24 in connection therewith is caught and held by its
stud 27 in its most outward position (see the green slide in the right
half of Figure 1), so that as the score of a game of pool cannot be
commenced until the three life spots are all uncovered by the withdrawal
of the slide the said withdrawal is necessarily registered.
"
In the event of any player losing his three lives, and wishing to "star,"
the marker sets (by a key fitting on the outer squared end of its
spindle 42) a separate eight-toothed "star wheel" 48 (one being pro-
vided to each slide) provided on its face with a dial 44 numbered from
0 to 3, so as to bring the number thereupon corresponding with the
number of lives any remaining player having the least has, opposite a
dial hole 45 alongside and to the right of the others, for which, as above
mentioned, the said player pays the whole fee paid as if at the com-
mencement of the game; and this movement of the wheel 43, and
consequently the payment of the fee therefor, is recorded by a pro-
jection 46 on one of the teeth of the said wheel moving the wheel 33
one tooth, and advancing its dial 35 one unit in a similar manner to that
above described.
The wheels 48 are prevented from being fraudulently rotated in a
wrong direction by spring catches 47.
All the above pool registering apparatus, together with their locking
devices, are arranged upon small metal plates 52, so that they may be
readily fixed by screws 58 on the face of wooden partitions 54 contained
within the casing of the marking board.
Figure 4 illustrates a combined view of the left arrangement of the
pool registering apparatus.
As above referred to all the keyholes 48 of the locking devices y are
protected by an H bolt 49 of a central safety lock 50, which, when
actuated by a special key in the care of the proprietor being passed
through the keyhole 51 (Figure 1), causes all the said keyholes to be
closed, so that the wheels 33, 34, can only be unlocked and the dials 35,
36, reset by him.
The arrangement of the lock 50 and its bolt 49 on the back of the
front board 39 (which is perforated with the dial holes 37, 38, 45, and
keyholes, 42, 48, and carries at its front the slate 28 perforated with
the keyhole 51) is shown in the back view of the said board in
Figure 5.

page_text: A second modification of this pool registering apparatus is shown in
the front view, Figure 6, which like Figure 1 is a combined view, the left
half showing the exterior, and the right half the interior. In this
modification the registering apparatus is actuated by the withdrawal of
the slides 24 both when desired to uncover the life spots at the com-
mencement of a game and (when "starring") it is necessary to exhibit
the "star spots," by this means I dispense with all the wheels 43 and
and their dials 44, and with their controlling springs 47, and thus
simplify the construction of this part of the apparatus very con-
siderably.
The main feature in this modification consists in forming the front of
the slides 24 of two parts 55, 56, both of which are withdrawn when
desired to uncover the life spots at the commencement of a game, and
only the outer one 56 of which is withdrawn when desired to exhibit
the "star's spots," the slides being retained in their most outward
position as before by the studs 27 with which the parts 56 are provided.
The "star spots" are formed on movable plates 57 which remain with
and behind the inner and movable part 55 of the slide, until on the
withdrawal of the outer part 56 thereof, a projection 58 catches the said
plate 57 so as to draw it out to shew one "star," at which time the catch
32 of its slide actuates the registering apparatus in connection therewith
as above described, the plates 57 are pulled out the remaining part of
their length by the finger, they are shewn as having been thus moved in
the lower parts of Figure 6.
When desired to uncover the life spots at the commencement of a
game, the parts 55 and 56 are together withdrawn, and as above, before
the parts 55 uncover the three spots, their catches 32 actuate the
registering apparatus in connection therewith as previously described.
I would here remark that in either of these modifications I can leave
the slate 23 as usual (see Figure 6), but provido it at 61 with hinges,
and place the front board 39 underneath it so as to enclose the registering
apparatus. And by placing an ordinary lock 62 at the bottom part of
the slate I can dispense with the H bolt, see Figure 6.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention for
"Improvements in Apparatus for Marking or Scoring at Billiards,'
'Pool,' 'Pyramids,' and other similar Games, and for Indicating the
Number of Games Played," together with the manner in which the same