A New or Improved Puzzle.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 24th July, 1890-Accepted, 30th Aug., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Puzzle.
I JOHN MILNER LESTER of 1 Adelaide Place London Bridge in the County of
Middlesex, Draughtsman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My object is to make a puzzle by cutting up a chess or draughts board, keeping
the division lines of the pieces coincident with the lines between the squares, in such
a manner that it shall form as difficult a puzzle as possible to put together correctly
after the pieces have been mixed.
I find by experiment that the best way to divide the chess or. other board in order
to effect this object is to cut it into the fewest possible combinations of squares of 3, 4
and 5 taking all the possible shapes obtainable (excepting in a straight line) of those
numbers. At the same time I omit all those shapes and combinations of colour which
could be placed in either the identical or opposite position of one another.
Dated this 24th day of October 1889.
A. H. REED,
Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Puzzle.
I, JOHN MILNER LESTER, of 1, Adelaide Place, London Bridge, in the County of
Middlesex, Draughtsman, 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, that is to say :-
My invention relates to a puzzle consisting of a number of irregular shaped pieces
of wood, paper, or other suitable material, which when put together form a perfect
square or rectangle.
In order to put my invention in operation I take a rectangular piece of paper,
card, wood, or other suitable material divided into a sufficient number of squares
alternately black and white, or of other desired different colours. I prefer that the
number of squares should be eight at each side or sixty four in all, so that the entire
rectangle resembles an ordinary chess board or draught board.
I cut the entire rectangular piece into a number of smaller pieces, each consisting
of a number of the smaller squares, preferably three, four, or five, the division being
made along the lines connecting the several squares, and the smaller squares which
form such separate pieces being left attached together so as to form different shapes,
(but not in a straight line end to end). I prefer however to omit such shapes and
combinations of colours in the separate pieces as would allow two or more to be
placed in the same or in opposite positions in relation to each other.
The improved puzzle is capable of almost endless variations of the form of the
smaller pieces, and whilst it is very simple, cheap, and easily made, it affords endless
amusement in putting the several pieces together to form the perfect rectangle.
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
elaim is-
The improved puzzle consisting of a rectangular piece composed of alternate black

page_text: and white or different coloured squares, cut or divided into smaller pieces each
containing a number of such squares, substantially in the manner and for the purpose
described.
."
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.