Apparatus for Playing a New Game.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Mar., 1889-Accepted, 15th June, 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Playing a New Game.
I CONSTANCE AMELIA HARTSHORNE of Bradbourne Hall, Wirksworth in the county
of Derby, Gentlewoman do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
In and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to means or apparatus for playing a game which I call "The
Colours" and which said game is intended for outdoor use but may be so modified
and arranged as to fit it for indoor amusement.
My apparatus consists of a set, or sets, of differently colored rings or hoops
formed of ash or any other suitable and pliable material such rings or hoops being,
say, about four inches in diameter or of any convenient size and of any desirable
thickness, a number of small flags or other indicators attached to suitable supports,
hand racks or carriers used by each player for the purpose of carrying the rings or
hoops from place to place during the progress of the game, differently colored posts
carrying platforms or supports for the rings or hoops when placed thereon shod or
otherwise prepared for driving into the ground or fixing in sockets or stands when
a hard surface is played upon so that they may stand upright, a larger or differently
sized post or posts on which indicating dises or other devices may be placed for the
purpose of informing the players as to the rotation of the colours and a general rack
or carrier of convenient size and design to receive or support parts of the apparatus
when not in use and facilitate transport.
Referring now to the accompanying drawings and to the Figures thereon it will be
seen that the apparatus shewn is designed for use when the game is played by four
persons, which is the number I prefer, and thus four colours are in use say. Red,
White, Blue and Green and these colours are represented on the drawings as
follows. "Red" is shewn by vertical hatching. "White" by plain paper.
by the blackened portion and "Green" by the horizontal hatching.
Blue"
Figure 1. shews a convenient method of placing the posts used in the game to
receive the rings deposited thereon by the players and the curved firm and dotted
lines shew convenient tracks or paths for the players to follow during the progress of
the game.
Figure 2 is an elevation of one of the posts used to hold or support the rings or
hoops of which posts I prefer to use, when four persons are playing, twenty in
number.
Figure 3. is an elevation of the starting post carrying a dise or other device for
shewing the colours of the rings and the rotation thereof in the game.
Figure 4. is a side elevation of the general rack or stand to carry the hand racks,
flags, rings &c., &c.
Figure 5. is an end elevation of the same.
Figure 6. is a plan of the same.
Figure 7. shews a ring or hoop.
Figures 8 and 9. are elevations of hand racks or carriers used by the players to
carry about the rings or hoops and flags during the progress of the game.
The game is played by a certain number of persons each having, say, eight rings
which at the commencement of the game are held on one of the hand racks or carriers
the said rings or hoops having been shuffled or mixed and placed hap-hazard on the
hand racks by a non-player.
The hand rack is carried, say for convenience, in the left hand and the rings or
hoops may be then removed therefrom by the right hand on the player reaching
the pronerly colored post and deposited thereon.
:

page_text: The flags or other indicators are carried and removed in like manner.
Referring now to the "Rules" hereinafter recited and to the Figure 1 on the
drawings representing the plan of the court.
The players (in this case four) having chosen partners and the said partners having
decided on their own positions during the game as to the inner or outer course or
extreme right and left stand in pairs side by side and facing their opponents as at B
and C and walk in such order throughout the game.
::
"
Standing opposite the starting or post sett or row of posts the players
notice the colors of their own posts in that sett or row and then refer to their
handracks, should a player find that that the uppermost ring or hoop on his or her
handrack is of the color that "follows" the color of the post the ring may be placed
thereon as soon as the word to start is given.
The centre or chance post may be claimed by the inner player of either party
should they find on their hand rack the properly colored ring to "follow" the color
of the said chance post and the post continues to belong during the game to the side
first claiming it by placing a mark or flag thereon denoting that it so belongs to his
or her party.
The players walk to each sett or row as indicated by plan and may not return to
one that is passed.
RULES OF THE GAME.
"Left
"
1. Players toss or arrange for "Right" or
such being right or left when
standing with the back to the "Starting Post" (A Fig. 1) Partners arrange for
"Extreme Right" (B) and "Extreme Left" (C). The inside player of each side
gets the most play the Extreme" therefore on either side is the outside
player.
16
The Extreme Right" and "Extreme Left" of the Post sett D D and Right
sett E E become the inside opponents at the "Left Set" F. F and End Set G G
(see plan of progress) Fig. 1.
2. The colours must always be played in the following order: Red, White, Blue,
Green, for instance, the blue post takes next Hoop Green; next Hoop Red; next,
Hoop White; and the Post is thus complete. The colours must never be mixed but
always work in order as above from the post colour.
3. Partners stand in pairs on opposite sides of the "Post sett " D. D. say as at B
and C each player holds a Rack Fig. 8 (with S Hoops and 2 Flags on it) in the left
hand, the players walk to the set and try for their Posts, the inside opponents also
having the chance of the "Chance Post H (which is the middle one of each set)
by placing with their right hand the first hoop from their Rack on the Post, if it
(the Post) is the right colour for their Hoop to follow according to the sequence of
the colours on the Disk, and "doubling" it following and doubling their Partner's
Post (if right colours) 3 moves.
But
The inside player can take the "Chance Post" and "double" it following and take
his Post and double" it following and "double" his partners Post; 5 moves.
when the four colours are complete on any Post: (counting the Post as one colour)
the players cannot place more Hoops on it.
4. The four sets are called the "Post set" the "Left Set the "Right Set" and
the End Set."
5. The game starts from the "post set" to "Left Set" across to "Right Set" and
through End Set" and the players return and begin again at the "Post Set"
starting together at the word "play."
6. The middle post of each set is called the "Chance Post" and whichever side
gains it, keeps it for the game, and it is Vantage.
7. To mark the side the "Chance Post" belongs to flag "L" or "R" is put into
the hole at the top.
8. The 8 Hoops must be well mixed or shuffled by non-players on each Rack
(2 each of the 4 colours).

page_text: 9. If a player can place a Hoop and cannot “ double" it himself he can “double”
his partners Post or if a player cannot place a Hoop, he may "double" his partners
play.
10. The "Extreme Right" and "Extreme Left" cannot cross over and "double"
their partners "Chance Post."
"Miss" and the Post is
11. If a player places the wrong coloured Hoop it is a
"Killed" and it cannot be used further in that game, and is to be marked by a
black flag, to be put in the eye between the top and platform of the Post "half-
mast-bigh."
12. In the case of the "Chance Post" belonging to one side and the opposite side
placing a Hoop by mistake it is called a "Tort "and the Hoop is taken back by
the player, who loses his turn, at that set of posts.
13. If after a Post is completed, Hoops are placed on it by mistake, the Hoop is
taken back by the player, and he loses his turn at that set of Posts.
14. Three times round the court makes the game unless one player announces be
is out, i.e. no more Hoops, the other three players having played their turns at that
set of posts the game is declared. It may occasionally happen that one side is
stopped by being unable to place further Hoops in any Set; In this case the sides
count the remaining Hoops on their Racks, and the side that has the smallest number
shall be declared the winner of the game.
15. To win the game is to get the largest number of completed posts out of a
possible 5.
16. Three games make a set.
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 means or apparatus herein described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawings for playing a new game preferably for out door use.
Dated this 8th day of March 1889.
POPPLEWELL, COLTON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.