AN IMPROVED TOY PISTOL FOR PLAYING A GAME AT NUMERICAL HAZARD
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Charles Henderson of 47 Museum Street Oxford
Street in the Parish of Bloomsbury and county of Middlesex for an Invention
of AN IMPROVED TOY PISTOL FOR PLAYING A GAME AT NUMERICAL HAZARD
communicated to him from abroad by Emile Barbé of the city of Paris in the
Republic of France
:
t
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Charles Henderson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th July 1883.
ARTHUR CHARLES HENDERSON of 47 Museum Street Oxford Street in the
Parish of Bloomsbury and county of Middlesex "AN IMPROVED TOY PISTOL FOR
PLAYING A GAME AT NUMERICAL HAZARD A communication to me from abroad
by Emile Barbé of the city of Paris in the Republic of France
"
The toy pistol the subject of the present invention is of the form of a revolver,
or carbine if required, its object being a new game of numerical hazard, which is
more attractive and amusing than the usual numerical games.
The numerical combinations are produced by manoeuvring an external button,
the figures cannot possibly be tampered with, nor can they be clandestinely arranged.
Numbers running from 0 to as high as desired are marked in relief or are sunk
on squares on endless bands, three or more in number; these bands of unequal
length can be changed about so as to alter the combinations by means of the knob
outside the barrel.
Inside the barrel is a movable box containing the bands bearing the numbers,
each one on a square, this box forms the projectile of the pistol, it is however held
captive within the barrel; being merely impelled forward by the release of a
spring acted on by the trigger in conjunction with "two sears, which latter also
operate on the hammer for raising it at cock, by a second spring, and also bringing
it down to discharge a detonating cap, simultaneously causing a clapper to strike
a bell mounted on the handle of the pistol.
When the box containing, the numbers
projected towards the mouth of the
pistol it is there held, and the numbers or figures can be read through a window,
so that although readily seen they cannot be tampered with.
The inequality, in the lengths of the respective endless bands on which the
numbers appear conduces to the various numerical and chance combinations

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Arthur Charles Henderson in the Patent Office on the 2nd January
1884.
i
ARTHUR CHARLES HENDERSON of 47 Museum Street, Oxford. Street in the
Parish of Bloomsbury and county of Middlesex AN IMPROVED TOY PISTOL FOR
PLAYING A GAME AT NUMERICAL HAZARD A communication to me from abroad
by Emile Barbé of the city of Paris in the Republic of France
The new toy the subject of the present invention is of the form of a pistol or
revolver, carbine or rifle, and its object is to form a new game of numerical hazard
which is more attractive and amusing than the usual numerical games.
The numerical combinations are produced by. manoeuvring an external knob or
button: the figures cannot possibly be tampered with, nor can they be clandestinely
arranged.
The numbers that can be formed range from 0, to as high as may be desired,
and in all cases the combinations are perfectly chance as in the case of lotteries,
and they are formed inside the barrel of the gun, and quite independently of the
will of the player, they appear only to be read, and cannot be removed from the
gun in which they, are imprisoned...
↑
In the accompanying. drawings Fig 1 is a longitudinal section. Fig 2 a side
elevation, and Fig 3 an end view of the mouth of the barrel. Fig 4 is a plan of
the mechanism showing the numerical combinations. The barrel a, of the pistol
here represented can be of any size or shape it may be round or flat sided and
is attached to a handle b formed of either one or three parts a. a¹ and b. solidly
united, the intermediate piece a¹ containing the lock mechanism.
The, barrel a, is hollow throughout its length and is of a rectangular section for
the reception (with slight friction) of the number box c, to, which it acts as guide
in its rectangular pisplacements, which are communicated to it as will be
explained.
་
The box c, which is the projectile of the pistol (but which projectile is captive in
the barrel) is closed at the rear to receive the impulsion of a spiral spring r, which
is compressed when the box c is brought to the starting point, and is liberated by
the action of the trigger.
:
This trigger d, has a double' sear d' and d³; by the sear, or lever d³, it engages
with a rocking spring f, pivoting at f¹, on an axis traversing the tumbler g',. of the
cock g.
"
In pulling the trigger d, the sear d¹ which is acted on by the spring ƒ³, fixed to
the cock g, raises the spring f, which draws with it the tumbler, and cocks the
pistol:.
The object of the second 'sear d' of the trigger is to depress a long spring h
fixed on the barrel, and furnished with a catch ', which engages with a reversed
catch attached to the figure box c. When the box c'is drawn to the rear of the
pistol it compresses the spiral spring r, and is held in its place when the catch c
engages with the catch h¹, of the spring h.
The hammer in descending strikes in a cup i, where an ordinary toy cap or
detonator is placed, at the same time a clapper connected to the cock strikes a
bell mounted in a recess in the handle. 2
1.
The box c, adjusted and sliding in the barrel a, encloses the series of numbers

page_text: which should form the numerical and chance combinations. The series to the
number of three m, n, p; (but which may be more or less in number) consists of
three small straps or endless bands of unequal lengths, all three passing over a
square shaft and over three other shafts m³, nl, pl, each one distinct for each of
the bands m. n. p; each of which latter is furnished with a certain number of
squares or blocks x, having different numbers on each, which are either sunk or
in relief on them, these figures commencing at 0, to 9, inclusive, or a number
composed of two or more figures may be employed..
The smallest strap or band p has for instance 8 squares bearing figures: the
middle band n, has 12, and the largest m 16. These figures or numbers produce
by their three series of rows in front of the shaft q (common to all) quite unexpected
numerical combinations.
To mix and change these series of rows a simultaneous translatory motion is
imparted to the three straps or bands by acting on the shaft m', which leaves the
barrel by aid of the circular button or knob o, fixed on the said shaft, which is
square, as is also the groove 8 of the barrel in which it moves, the square enlarging
at s to allow of the rotation of the square m², by which the combinations of tho
figures is effected.
In the forward projection of the case or box c the square m², which after the
combination of the figures is effected occupies any position, is brought level or
perpendicular as soon as it engages in the external groove s, the result being that
the figure squares a, are brought in front of the window a", at the mouth of the
barrel in a nicely arranged and vertical position.
The grooves, if desired may be concealed by a slide which follows the square m²,
in its rectilinear displacements-Finally when the case or box c, is at the starting
point a hinged door v, hides the figures, in front of which it falls naturally.
Action of the toy-The case or box c, being led to the position shown in the
drawing, it is stopped by the spring h and compresses the spring
On drawing the trigger d, the hammer g, is cocked to allow of placing a detonating
cap in the pan or cup i, but in continuing to draw on the trigger, the following
and simultaneous effects are produced, that is to say :-
1st The release of the catch h¹, of the spring h causing a forward projection of
the case or box c, by the release of the spring 7.
2nd The release of the spring f, causing the descent of the hammer and discharge
of the cap and striking of the clapper on the bell if one is connected with
the hammer.
3rd Raising the sears d², and d', by the spring h.
When the case or box c is brought to the starting point or normal state (which
position is shown by the drawings) the button o is turned as much as required,
which makes the bands m. n. p. bearing the figures, to revolve, and being unequal
in length numerical combinations are effected which are quite independent of the
player, and which cannot be ascertained until the pistol is discharged, when such
combinations are presented at the window a¹ at the mouth of the barrel.
Having thus described the invention what is claimed is :-
―
The novel toy whose action by means of the trigger produces simultaneously (if
desired) with the discharge of the cap, a ringing of the bell, the projection of a case
or box exhibiting a combination of figures or numbers, but in such a manner as to
keep the case captive in the barrel of the pistol, so that it can easily be read at the
window expressly made at the pistol's mouth. *
Claim is also made to the peculiar arrangement of the figures or numbers on the
endless bands which are of unequal lengths, bearing even or uneven numbers, and
the transmission of these bands and the changing of their relative positions by
moving them by means of an external button, so as to form the various com-
binations of numbers or figures, quite at hazard and without any possibility of
trickery or controlling the movements of the figures, reserving the right of varying

page_text: the number of the bands and the figures thereon, as well as of modifying the
.construction of the toys, with or without bells, and making them either in the
shape of pistols, revolvers or carbines or any other form of weapon.
In witness whereof I the said Arthur Charles Henderson have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this second day of January in the Year of Our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty four
A. C. HENDERSON (L.S.)