the of Games Played.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 17th May, 1887.
Complete Left, 12th July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 23rd Aug., 1887.
the Number of Games Played.
We JOHN BRINDLE of 18 Hilton Terrace Whitehaven in the County of Cumberland
Accountant and SARAH ELIZABETH BRINDLE of 18 Hilton Terrace Whitehaven in the
said County of Cumberland Spinster do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
A wheel is placed on the end of a roller on the face of which wheel are inscribed
the numbers up to 50 or as may be required to score the game played.
A fixed pointer points to the number scored from time to time and by the player or
marker turning the roller (which is mounted within a case) in the act of scoring the
game A ball (out of a known number) falls from a spiral or other tube automatically
into a cavity in the roller and is afterwards in the further turning of the roller during
the act of scoring the game deposited in a locked up receptacle the number of balls
n which registers the number of games played.

page_text: We, JOHN BRINDLE, Accountant, and SARAH ELIZABETH BRINDLE, Gentlewoman,
both of Whitehaven, Cumberland, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This Invention relates to certain Improved Apparatus for scoring at Billiards, and
for registering the number of games played.
The Improved Apparatus is illustrated on the accompanying drawings; of which
Fig. 1, represents an elevation of the interior, the back being removed :-Fig. 2,
represents a front elevation of the lower part of the apparatus :-Fig. 3, represents a
sectional plan view through about the line, a-b, of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4, represents a
plan view, partly in section, of the scoring and registering wheel.
The Improved Apparatus is constructed with a vertical case, 5, of any required
dimensions, and the upper part of which is fitted with a vertical, helical, spiral or
other suitably arranged tube or receptacle, 6, intended to contain a definite number
of glass marbles, balls, or other like means, 2, of appropriate size, and by which the
number of games played is registered. Access can only be obtained to the tube, 6,
upon opening a lid or cover, 8, hinged at, 9, and locked at, 10, the key being intended
to be kept by or under the control of the proprietor of the apparatus. The bottom
end of the tube consequently forms the only normal means of egress for the contained
balls, and such end is controlled by an enlarged cylindrical part, 11, of the upper one
of two wheels, 12, which are used in scoring the progress of the game, the means of
doing which are all enclosed in the lower part of the apparatus, and access thereto
from the top end of the case (otherwise than through the tube, 6, as aforesaid) is
closed by stout divisions, 13. The spindles, 14, of the scoring wheels, 12, are
mounted in the sides of the case, 5, in such a manner as to have facility of being
turned therein, and they are turned as required (in a forward direction only) by
external hand wheels, 15, on projecting ends of the spindles, 14, any reverse turning
movement of the wheels being prevented by metal ratchet rims, 16, with which the
spindles of the wheels are adapted, and by controlling pawls, 17, fixed within the
case in such positions as will prevent their being surreptitiously got at.

page_text: The top wheel, 12, is preferably used for scoring the spot ball, and its said
cylindrical part, 11, rotates in immediate adjacence with the exit end of the tube, 6,
and thus prevents escape of any of its contained balls, 7, until a recess or cavity, 18,
formed in its periphery (and which is of such a size as to receive one of such balls at
a time) comes under the tube, and which preferably occurs simultaneously with
such wheel, 12, being first actuated in scoring the begining of the game. As the
wheel cannot be reversely turned, the ball thus received from the tube is, by the
further movement of such scoring wheel, carried beyond the end of the tube, 6, and
automatically escapes out of such cavity, 18, and falls past the spindle of the lower
scoring wheel, 12, into a receptacle, 19, having a door hinged at, 20, and locked
at, 21, and access to which receptacle can only be obtained by a key in the possession
of the proprietor, who thus has a double check upon the marker-Viz, the number
of balls contained in the receptacle, 19, and the number thereof left remaining in the
tube, 6. The periphery of each scoring wheel is marked with numbers in regular
succession from, 1, up to, 50, or to any other number, if required, such numbers not,
however, being shown on the annexed drawings and the scoring indications are given
through apertures, 22, in the case, through which the numbers on the wheels, 12, are
plainly visible, vide the number "50" Fig. 2. and to which fixed pointers may be
applied as dotted at 23. Suitable provision is made for keeping the actuation of the
scoring and registering wheel, 12, under the sole control of the marker by means of a
lock, 24, the key of which is intended to be kept by him, such lock being adapted
with a bolt, 25, which can be moved into engagement with the ratchet rim, 16, of
such wheel, so as to prevent it from being fraudulently actuated to the disadvantage
of the marker, or the bolt of the marker's lock 24, may be caused to engage directly
with the scoring and registering wheel, 12, in such a inanner as to stop the further
movement thereof at the end of each revolution and game, in which case a shallow
groove would be formed in the face of the wheel encircling it to the angular extent
occupied by the indicating figures on its periphery, and in which groove the bolt of
the lock might be shot by the marker at the commencement of or at any period
during the progress of the game allowing of the subsequent movement of the wheel
but arresting its further movement at the end of the game.
It is obvious that the above described apparatus, without alteration of its con-
struction, is applicable to and may be used with equal advantage for scoring and
registering other games than billiards.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is :-
:-
1. The improved construction and arrangement of apparatus for scoring at billiards
and for registering the number of games played, substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. The use of such apparatus for scoring and registering other games than billiards
for which it may be suitable.
3. The improved method of registering the number of games played by means of
balls or like parts contained in a locked tube or receptacle under the control of a
scoring wheel and from which they can escape only one at a time substantially as
herein before described.
4. In combination; the locked tube or receptacle, 6, adapted to contain a number
of balls to be used in registering the number of games played; the controlling
part, 11, adapted with a cavity, 18, to receive such balls one at a time, at each
revolution of a connected scoring wheel and forming part of or actuated thereby; the
ratchet rim, 16, and pawl, 17, or equivalent means for preventing any reverse turning
movement being given to the scoring wheel; the locking apparatus, 24, 25, or
equivalent means for preventing the scoring wheel from being improperly actuated,
and the locked receptacle, 19, adapted to receive the registering balls, substantially as
herein before described.
5. The wheel, 12, adapted for scoring the progress of the game, and with a cavity
in a connected controlling part, 11, suitable for receiving a ball for registering each

page_text: game played and for transferring it to a suitable locked receptacle, and with a ratchet
rim or equivalent means for preventing it from being turned in a backward direction,
and with a hand-wheel or equivalent means for turning it in a forward direction, and
with a lock or equivalent means for preventing it from being fraudulently actuated,
substantially as herein before described.