WHIST COUNTER
Year: 1884

page_text: - "
I, DAVID KIMBALL HORTON of Boston, State of Massachusetts, United States of
AN IMPROVED
America, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for
WHIST COUNTER," 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 a convenient apparatus for scoring the
points gained in a game of whist, and also the number of games won, and the
whole number of points gained at a sitting; and it consists in a metallic tablet
having its top surface in two planes; the upper about one eighth of an inch higher
than the lower plane, in the edges of which are hinged three sets of movable,
metallic keys; one set in the upper plane to register the number of games won at
a sitting; one set in the lower plane to register the points gained in each game,
and one set in the lower plane to register the whole number of points gained in all
the games played at a sitting.
This metallic tablet is mounted on a pedestal or block of wood, or other suitable
substance of such dimensions that the outer end of the keys in the lower plane
will extend a little over the edge of it, as illustrated in the Drawings annexed, and
described below.
In the Drawings annexed,
Fig. 1 shows a top plan of my game counter, with all the keys in a horizontal
position.
Fig. 2 is a perspective of my game counter with part of the keys in a
perpendicular position, and a part of them in the horizontal position.
Fig. 3 is a bottom plan of the metallic tablet and of the keys set in the edge of
it, showing the hinge by which the keys are affixed to the tablet, and the spring in
the key, which keeps them in position as placed.
X is the pedestal upon which the tablet is placed and affixed.
Y is the metallic tablet in the edge of which the indicating keys are placed.
e is the lower plane of the tablet.
el is the upper plane of the tablet which is made separate from the lower plane
and has the half round groove a' in the under side of, and mortises in the edge of
it for the keys marked a¹. By two screws marked a, it and the lower plane of
the tablet are secured together and to the pedestal.
a marks the keys hinged to the lower plane of the tablet, used to register the
points gained in a game, each key counting one when raised to perpendicular.

page_text: a marks the keys hinged to the upper plane of the tablet, used to register the
number of games won at a sitting, by counting the aggregate of the figures on the
keys raised to perpendicular.
a² marks the keys used to register the whole number of points gained in all the
games played at a sitting, by counting the aggregate of all the figures on the keys
raised to perpendicular.
a³ is a slot in the shank of the keys by which the shank is furcated and made a
spring to keep the key in position as placed, the mortise in the edge of the tablet
being made a little narrower than the shank of the key, so that when the key is
inserted the prongs of the furcated shank are sprung.towards each other a little.
a is a half round groove in the under side of the edge of the lower plane of the
tablet, in which the hinges of the keys lie and move.
a shows the hinges of the keys in the grooves at prepared for them.
In the use of my game counter, one counter is required for each side of the
game; the keys are all placed in a horizontal position. When either party has
gained a point, one of the keys marked a, is raised to the perpendicular to register
the point, and so on till six points are gained; when the seventh point is gained
(which point completes the game), the key marked a bearing the figure I, is
raised to the perpendicular to register one game won, and the six keys marked a,
are placed in the horizontal position ready for use in the next gaine, and of the
keys marked a', those bearing the figures 2 and 5, are raised to the perpendicular,
registering seven points gained.
Thus it will be perceived that the number of standing keys marked a, indicate
the points gained in a game, and that the aggregate of the figures on the keys.
marked a¹, raised to perpendicular indicates the number of games won; and the
aggregate of the figures on keys marked a raised to perpendicular, indicates the
whole number of points gained in all the games played at a sitting.
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
The above described improved game counter, consisting of the metallic tablet Y
made in two planes, e and e¹, having the half roun 1 groove at, the keys a, a', and a³
having furcated shanks and hinges a³, mounted on a pedestal, all substantially as
described.
Dated January 17, 1884.
Witnesses,
JOHN R. HALL.
CH. HOUGHTON.
DAVID KIMBALL HORTON.