Im- PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE EXPLOYED FOR REGISTERING THE NUMBER OF GAMES PLAYED AT BILLIARDS
Year: 1870

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Ramsbottom at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th
February 1870.
I, JOHN RAMSBOTTOM, of Leeds, in the County of York, Hydraulic
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE EXPLOYED FOR REGISTERING THE NUMBER OF
GAMES PLAYED AT BILLIARDS," to be as follows :-
This Invention relates to an improved method of recording the number
of games played at billiards, and the apparatus is so constructed as to
be readily applied to existing marking boards. I employ an ordinary
marking board on which are two or more lines of figures recording to
ten or more. As the game proceeds the "marker" or attendant moves
a pointer progressively to the last or highest figure and then returns
the pointer back to 0 or figure 1.
Now the object of this Invention is, firstly, to score on a dial or dials
these tens or multiples of the lines of figures by mechanism actuated by
the pointer on being returned to its original position, and also to record
by duplicate indicating gear the number of games played since last
examination of the indices.
The apparatus employed is constructed as follows:- Immediately
behind the marking board and near the two lines of figures referred to

page_text: I affix to a small plate attached to the pointer and moving with it
(through or along a slot cut in the board) a spring catch, and also
behind the board and near the lines of figures are two discs upon a
shaft and ratchet wheel and worm. The disc nearest the board is pro-
vided with five pins projecting from its surface and are placed at equal
distances apart. As the pointer is moved forward the spring catch is
brought in contact with one of the said pins, over which it passes. When
the pointer is returned the spring on the back of the catch presses it
into position against one of the said pins that it cannot escape as
before, but must move the pin out of its path, and this act partially tuuns
round the ratchet disc as well as the other disc immediately behind the
board (having an aperture), which latter disc is divided and marked by
multiple figures 10, 20, 30, 40-50, and on cach partial revolution of
the said disc, these figures appear at the aperture. The worm abovo
mentioned is on the end of the disc shaft, and during revolution imparts
motion to indicating mechanism constructed. as follows:-A shaft having
pinion gearing with. the worm referred to extending to the end of the
marking board and is there connected with an ordinary train of wheel-
work similar to those in use in gas or water meters with decimal move-
ments indicated by dials. The ratchet on disc shaft is by a retaining
catch prevented returning or moving backwards, and on the completion
of each game the "losing" dials must by the attendant moving on
the pointer and returning same be brought to indicate and agree with
the "winner's" dial. This duty will be required of the."marker" to
provent fraud by indicating the number of games played with the
equivalent payment due for such games from the marker to the pro-
prictor, as the indicating apparatus is duplicate or one for cach line of
figures, and is only accessible to the proprietor, it cannot be seen or
tampered with by the "marker," and any negligence of duty or attempt
at fraud will be exposed by the dials not recording alike when opened
and inspected; and this provision against fraud by the use of two dials
is an important element in this apparatus, and the duty of the marker
to secure a uniform state of registration at the completion of cachi game
is also necessary to return the dises to the state necessary to commence
a new game.