Improvements in Apparatus for Playing a Parlour Game.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Playing a Parlour Game.
I, WILLIAM HARRINGTON LUCAS, 9, Ledbury Road, Pembridge Square, London,
W., Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:-
An original game for adults and children. For the purpose of my invention
I take a square board of convenient size say eighteen inches, ruled with lines
at right angles to each other, enclosing squares of convenient size, say 3ths of
an inch more or less. At each intersection of these lines a hole or sufficiently
deep recess is bored to admit of a pin or projection as in pocket chess boards.
I provide eight or more models of war ships of various classes painted in two
colours and provided with projections at the bow of each to fit into the holes at
the intersections above described. In the game each vessel has moves, varying
with the speed, firing range, & draught, of each class. Any vessel discovered
within the range of a superior vessel at the commencement of the next players
move, is taken as captured and removed from the board as in chess by the said
player before moving. The course of each vessel during its following move is
preditermined at the termination of each move by rotating it on the pivot before
mentioned.
The moves are taken alternately, and the game can be varied almost indefinitely
by affixing templates representing the outlines of land, shoals, bays, capes, islands,
towns, forts and the like.
Improvements in Apparatus for Playing a Parlour Game.
I, WILLIAM HARRINGTON LUCAS, Civil Engineer and Manufacturer, of 88,
Cheapside, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, late of 9, Ledbury Road,
Pembridge Square, London, W., 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:
The object of my invention is to provide an original game for adults and
children by which great amusement may be obtained by both, combined with
considerable mental discipline, as well as an insight into; and realization of
the tactics of two or more naval forces in combat.

page_text: For the purpose of my invention, I take a square board of convenient size
say 17 or 18 inches more or less, made in any suitable material and ruled with
lines or grooves, at right angles to each other enclosing squares of about one inch
more or less.
At each intersection of these lines or groves a small hole or sufficiently deep
recess, is bored to admit of a pin or projection, as in pocket chess boards. I
provide eight or more models of war ships, as shew in the drawings Figures A, B, C
and D, of various classes, half bearing standards of one colour (say red) and half
of another (say black).
The models may consist of four on either side, say.
One battleship.
One torpedo boat.
One cruiser.
One destroyer.
Thèse can preferrably cast in lead or other suitable metals and coloured with
Aspinalls or other enamel, or could be made in wood, paper mache, cardboard,
or other suitable materiel. They are flat at the bottom, somewhere about the
water line, and provided with projections or pins at the bows of each to fit into
the holes or recesses at the intersections above described as in the board.
In playing the game, a square board is supplied with rectangular lines enclosing
squares of say one square inch in area, more or less, the intersections of these
lines are distinguished by holes or recesses, as in portable chess boards. The
board may if desired be covered with templates imaginary or from charts repre-
senting, land, islands, shoals, bays, capes, forts, (if any) permanently designed
or temporarily affixed before each game is played. Each player is provided
with at least four vessels respectively, battleship, cruiser, torpedo boat and
torpedo destroyer. The vessels vary each in three respects, namely, speed, gun
range, and draught, as follows.
BATTLESHIP.
Speed, one hole each move, vertical, horizontal or diagonal, in the direction of
its bows at the commencement of its move.
Gun range. Four holes each move, vertical horizontal or diagonal in all
directions.
Draught. Ten fathoms.
CRUISER.
Speed. Two holes each move, vertical, horizontal or diagonal in the direction
of its bows at the commencement of its move.
Gun range.
Three holes each move, vertical, horizontal or diagonal in all
directions excepting directly astern.
Draught. Seven fathoms.
TORPEDO BOAT.
Speed three holes each move, vertical, horizontal or diagonal, in the direction
of its bows at the commencement of its move.
Gun and torpedo range. Two holes each move in the direction of its bows,
only when at right angles to its enemy.
Draught. Five fathoms.
DESTROYER.
Speed. Four holes each move, vertical, horizontal or diagonal in the direction
of its bows, at the commencement of its move.
Gun and torpedo range, one hole each move in the direction of its bows only
when at right angles to its enemy.
Draught. Three fathoms.
RULES.
1st. The position of each vessel for moves, firing and draught is assumed to
be that of its pivot. The first vessel on each side can start from any position

page_text: of the board, such position to be taken as a move under aforesaid conditions.
The other vessels must start from any margin. The moves are alternate.
2nd Rule. At the commencement of each move any vessel discovering an enemy
within gun, ram or torpedo range under aforesaid conditions, can declare such
enemy as out of action, and remove it from the board, as in chess.
3rd Rule. Each vessel can revolve on its pivot or in other words, "swizzle,"
at the end of its move. It also has the privilage of swizzling in turn without
a move once only (see Rule 6). Each side swizzling without a move to hoist
standard corresponding with its colour denoting that some piece, must be moved
next turn. No move can be abbreviated.
4th Rule. Any vessel capturing by gun, ram or torpedo within radius of its
moving range must take the position of its captive and its direction. Any
vessel driven by its full move beyond any margin or found receeding or retreating
beyond a range of 5 holes from the nearest enemys vessel, vertical, horizontal or
diagonal to be considered as out of action, and taken from the board.
5th Rule. Capture to be considered as a move, any vessel not being able to
move, or swizzle forfeits the move. Range of forts (if any) can be settled before-
hand between the opposing players. If desirable the game can be played in
supposed darkness in which case the gun range of the battleship would be reduced
to two holes and the cruiser to one hole, thereby bringing the cruiser and
destroyer to level ranges. Likewise the battleships and torpedo boats. This
reduction applies to battleships and cruisers, with regard to torpedo boats and
destroyers only.
6th Rule. No enemys vessel can swizzle when once within range at right
angles of a torpedo boat or destroyer, although she can proceed on her course
if possible (see Rule 3).
The first players may each place either of their vessels in any position on the
board, such position to be taken respectively as their first moves.
The remainder
of the vessels must start in any order alternately from any margin.
In the drawing appended Figure A, signifies a battleship moving one hole,
vertical horizontal or diagonal in the direction of its bows at the commencement
of its move. Firing and capturing at four holes range in similar directions.
Figure B signifies a cruiser moving two holes and firing and capturing at
three holes in the above directions save and except directly astern.
Figure C. Torpedo boat moving three holes in the above directions and
capturing only when at right angles to its enemy when within range of two
holes at the commencement of its move.
Figure D. Torpedo destroyer moving four holes and capturing only when at
right angles to its enemy when within range of one hole at the commencement
of its move.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1st. The original design of the models of vessels to be used in the game as
described in the specification and shewn in the drawings Figures A, B, C and D.
2nd. The specific arrangement of the moves of the various pieces with regard
to their speed denoted by the number of holes traversed, firing or torpedo range
denoted by the number of holes at which they can capture an enemys vessel.
3rd. The special rules for playing the game as far as embodied in the Complete
Specification.