IMPROVEMENTS IN MODES OF AND APPARATUS FOR MARKING AND RECORDING BILLIARD, POOL, AND OTHER GAMES, APPLICABLE ALSO IN PART TO OTHER PURPOSES WHERE MARKING OR RECORDING IS RE- QUIRED
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Ashcroft, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MODES OF AND APPARATUS FOR
MARKING AND RECORDING BILLIARD, POOL, AND OTHER GAMES, APPLICABLE
ALSO IN PART TO OTHER PURPOSES WHERE MARKING OR RECORDING IS RE-
QUIRED."
Sealed the 1st June 1877, and dated the 1st December 1876.
"IMPROVEMENTS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Ashcroft at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st December 1876.
JAMES ASHCROFT, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
IN MODES OF AND APPARATUS FOR MARKING AND RECORDING BILLIARD, POOL,
AND OTHER GAMES, APPLICABLE ALSO IN PART TO OTHER PURPOSES WHERE MARKING
OR RECORDING IS REQUIRED."
Attached to an ordinary billiard and pool-marking board, preferably let into it
in the centre, we place a dial called hereafter the billiard dial, with two fingers to
represent spot and plain scores. Attached to this are ordinary decimal counters.
These counters keep a record of the number of games played, whether the marker
uses the ordinary hand indicator or the electric apparatus hereafter described.
The mode in which the billiard dial is worked is as follows:-Fixed or suspended
in any suitable manner over, on, or near the billiard table I construct two electric
contact makers, one for spot, the other for plain. These contact makers are each
connected by independent insulated wires to separate escapement arrangements
connected each to one of the pointers of the billiard dial aforesaid. On cach circuit
I place short circuit trembling bells or other similar mechanism, so as to audibly in-
dicate whenever a current passes, without at the same time breaking the current,
as would be the case with ordinary electric bells, (breaking the circuit would not
do, as it would cause the pointer to move forward on the dial one step for each
break of the circuit, as will hereafter be shown).
The modes in which I connect these wires with the pointers is as follows:-A
circular escapement wheel, on the axle of which the required pointer is fixed, has a
given number (for billiards usually 50) slots or nicks round its periphery. Into one
of the slots falls or springs (when there is no electric current) a tooth on the
armature of an electro inagnet. The current being established, the electro maguot

page_text: draws back the armature, and thus frees the escapment wheel. The armature in
flying back completes a circuit round another electro magnet, which pulls the
escapement wheel forward one slot by means of a ratchet pawl on its armature.
When the current ceases, the toothed armature flies back and holds the escapement
wheel, while the ratchet pawl armature flies back ready for another stroke; springs
or other mechanism assist the return strokes of the armature. If the hand marker
be used, the current is completed to a similar mechanism on the counting apparatus,
when a metallic plate on the back of the pointer or marker passes over and
depresses a metallic knob at No. 1 on the counting scale. The same thing occurs
when the hands in the billiard dial pass over No. 1, and thus the counting apparatus
registers a fresh game.
The way I prefer to fix the electric apparatus at the table is to bring the in-
sulated wires along the gas chandelier, and have two or more contact makers
hanging by their insulated wires only or otherwise suspended from the chandelier
over the ends of the billiard table. They can however be knobs fixed in the wall at
each end of the room, or a special table or stand can be placed for the purpose.
In marking for pool, metallic springs on each slide coming against a metallic plate
at the third life, but entirely hid from view at all times, so as to prevent its being
tampered with, are so arranged that as soon as the said "life" or dot is half covered,
the contact is made, and the hand of a special dial (the "pool dial") is turned one
point by similar mechanism to that above described for the billiard dial.
Special arrangements can be made to prevent the slide being left exactly on the
centre, so as to keep the slide in contact, but I find putting a trembling bell on the
circuit as decidely the best.
A simpler locking gear, similar to one or other of those well known and used in
railway points or otherwise, can be applied to prevent the marker from pulling out
two slides contemporaneously, and thus recording only one ball.
All the slides arc
in the same circuit, and record ou the same instrument. I prefer to let the slide
record the fact each time the two conducting points pass each other, instead of
having a special arrangement to prevent the recording of the return stroke.
In pyramid pool the numbers from 1 to 15 are inscribed on 2 rows, along which
two sliding pointers traverse in the usual manner, with this exception, that a long
slide is attached to the pointer and electric contact made by a plate near the end of
the slide passing over two springs, as described in pool, the main point being to
always have the contact maker entirely protected from view and from consequent
fingering or tampering; the electric wire can also be connected with a trembling bell,
and perhaps recording apparatus in the manager's room or elsewhere.
In field games my apparatus might be used for showing the scoring in the tent,
more especially in such cases as those where the scores do not score at the tent
itself. Similarly in rifle matches I arrange the targets in separate rings, and as the ball
strikes a ring and forces it momentarily in, it pushes back a detent that completes
the circuit, thus recording the hit on a dial in precisely the same way as described
in the billiard arrangement.
The short circut bell mentioned previously is of the following construction-The
armature is hinged to the frame of machine and kept in electric connection
with say the positive pole of the battery by a steel spring, and to this
armature is attached the hammer of the bell. The current travels from the
positive pole through a wire in communication with the spring aforesaid, through
the coils round the magnets to a pin, and thence to the negative pole. This pin has
its point slightly beyond the place of the magnet ends. Directly opposite the pin,
and attached to the spring, is a metallic plate; as the armature is drawn to the
magnets the spring and point of pin come in contact, and form a short circuit.
The pin is screwed in and out through its bearing to regulate i is exact position in
reference to the spring.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Ashcroft in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st June 1877.
JAMES ASHCROFT, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MODES OF AND APPARATUS FOR MARKING AND RECORDING BILLIARD, POOL,
AND OTHER GAMES, APPLICABLE ALSO IN PART TO OTHER PURPOSES WHERE MARKING
OR RECORDING IS REQUIRED.
Attached to an ordinary billiard and pool marking board, and preferably let into
it, or on a marking board specially designed for the purpose, we place a dial with
two fingers, or preferably two dials with one finger each, one for spot the other plain.
Attached to these are ordinary decimal registering counters; these counters keep a
record of the number of games played, where the marker uses the ordinary hand
indicator or the electric apparatus hereafter described.
The mode in which the billiard dials are worked is as follows:-Fixed or
suspended in any suitable manner over, in, or near the billiard table I construct two
electric contact makers one for spot the other for plain. These contact makers are
cach connected by independant insulated wires to separate escapement arrange-
ments connected each to one of the pointers of the billiard dial aforesaid. On each
circuit I place a short circuit trembling bell or other similar mechanism, so as to
audibly indicate whenever a current passes without, at the same time breaking tho
circuit as would be the case with ordinary electric bells. Breaking the circuit
would not do, as it would cause the pointer to move forward on the dial one step
for each break of the circuit as will be hereafter shown.
The modes in which I connect these wires with the pointers is fully explained in
the Drawings combined with the explanation of the same hereafter given. It is
precisely the same in principle whether as exemplified in the dials for billiard and
pyramid marking, or those for pool or shell-out. If the hand marker be used the
current is completed to a similar mechanism on the counting apparatus when a
metallic plate on the back of the pointer or marker passes over and depresses a
metallic knob at No. 1 in the counting scale. The same thing occurs when the
hands on the billiard dial pass over No. 1, and thus the counting apparatus registers
a fresh game.
The way
prefer to fix the electric apparatus at the table is to bring the
insulated wires along the gas chandelier and have two or more contact makers
hanging by their insulated wires only or otherwise suspended from the chandelier
over the ends of the billiard table.
In marking for pool metallic studs, spring, or plates on the back of each slide
coming at the first life against a knob, made one side of ivory, the other of metal
fixed to the end of a spring in electric communication with the opposite pole to
that which the slide itself is connected completes the circuit. The object of the
compound knob, half ivory half metal, is that, in pulling the slide out the stud may
only touch the ivory, but in screwing it back it may make contact with the metal
and so record the game. This is recorded on a special dial hereafter described and
shown in Drawings. In using the ordinary slides for billiard marking a hook on
the back of the slide catches a spring and causes it to touch another spring rather
shorter than itself, thus completing the circuit.
Special arrangements can be made to prevent the slide being left exactly in the
centre, but I find that putting a trembling bell on the circuit is decidedly the best.
In preference however to slides, whether for billiards, pool, shell-out, or any other
game, I prefer dials, such as shown in the Drawings.
In pyramid and pool the numbers from 1 to 15 are inscribed in 2 rows, along
which two sliding pointers traverse in the usual manner with this exception, that a
long slide is attached to the back of the pointer, and electric contact made by a
plate near the end of the slide passing over two springs as described in pool, the
main point being to always have the contact maker entirely protected from view,.
and from consequent fingering or tampering the electric wire can also be connected

page_text: EXPLANATION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a front view; Figure 2, a back view; and Figure 3, end view of dial
for recording the games of pool or shell-out. In these A is a wheel with 50 teeth;
B, a lock catch on armature C of electro-magnet D; E is also an electro-magnet is
the same circuit as D; on the armature G of E is a catch F; H and I are spur
wheels containing 10 times the number of teeth that their respective driving pinions
on the arbors of A and H respectively carry, so that every revolution A moves Ha
tenth of a revolution, and every one of H moves I one-tenth, thus enabling their
respective pointers A', H, I, to record the right number of revolutions.
In pool and in shell-out as will afterwards be explained there is a slide or dial
for each player, as each slide or dial is set for playing it makes a contact and
momentarily magnetizes the magnets. At the same instant the catch B is drawn
back, and the tooth F pushes wheel A on a tooth. The two armatures being then
released fly back through the resilliance of their springs J, K, the catch B falls into
the next notch, and the tooth F is kept in place by spring L
In
Figure 4 is a front view of a dial for pool; Figure 5, a back view of same.
these A is a ratchet wheel; B, paul; C, a metal pin on the axis H of A; D, a
spring, securely bolted to frame E, but insulated from it by a pad and socket of
india-rubber I between it and the frame E and screw G; spring D is connected
with one pole of the battery, the axis H with the other; J is the dial; K is a plate
behind it on which are marked the three spots or "lives" and the three stars, any
of which by turning milled head K on axis H can be brought opposite the holes
L, L, L; in this case the three stars are opposite. It will be seen at once that if
the pin C comes in contact with spring D, whenever the three lives are placed in
position, every time a dial is set for a player to start a contact will be made and a
game scored on the dial (shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3,) with which it is connected.
A trembling bell can, if desired, be placed on the circuit. There are usually ten
dials on one board, and one game indicator dial.
Figures 6 and 7 represent the dial for shell-out. As this is precisely the same
in principle no further description is given, like letters denoting like parts to those
in Figures 4 and 5.
Fig. 8 is my trembling bell. The current is made to traverse both coils, proceeding
from A through B, C, D, to the screw D with a silver point, and from thence through
E to the other pole of the battery. G is a spring in contact with current A by
means of screw H; I is a piece of soft metal; J, a hole in spring with a silver plate
to come against silver pin D; K is the hammer; L, the gong. When the current
is on the electro-magnets become active and draw the armature J toward them, but
it cannot quite touch them because of silver screw D (adjustable). The instant
however the screw D touches the silver plate the electricity finding an easier course
passes through spring G and the silver plate to screw D, and so on through E,
leaving the magnets. These being thus made inactive the armature flies back, the
current changes, and again the armature is drawn back, ringing the bell each time.
Figures 9 and 10 are views of the billiard dial. It is very similar to the pool
game recording dial, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Like figures describe like parts
in each.
The train of gearing is different in these. A pinion on A drives M in the
proportion of 10 to 1, and M drives N, and N drives O in same proportion, thus
forming ordinary counting dials; M. also drives P, whose pinion Q drives R, a

page_text: dial which by the milled peg S and link work T can be thrown out of gear at any
times and set at zero, so that the parties playing can set it to count their own games
without interfering with the register on M, N, O, which is beyond their reach.
Figs. 11, 12, and 13 show the pyramid dial in this game the count is from 1
to 15, but as it is played with the billiard game dial which goes up to fifty it is so
arranged that fifty contacts are made in the circle so that it shall work with the
billiard counting apparatus. In these A is the dial; B, hand on axis C; on axis C
is keyed wheel D with fifty times as many teeth as pinion E; on pinion E is
cam G with a rounded projection at one end and sharp rachet toothed at the
other;
His a spring with silver plate at end in contact with the positive pole of
the battery; I is a spring with a platinum or silver pin projecting toward the
silver plate but not touching it, and connected with the negative pole; this acts as
a paul to prevent the cam being turned the wrong way, as does also ratchet paul J.
On the axis E is the milled K stop for the marker to score by; it is marked with
an arrow, as shown, to indicate the point at which to stop, turning it at cach
revolution.
Figs. 11, 12, 13 show my mode of working slides for pool. In these A, A, are
two knobs composed of brass on the side shown with shading lines, and ivory on
the other side; B, spring supporting same and attached to frame; C, slide; D, E,
brackets attached to slide; F, screw, usually a twisted square bar; G, a bracket
attached to frame with a hinged flap H, through which the screw passes, hinged so
that it cannot move in the direction of the bracket E beyond the vertical; I, contact
piece on slide; when the slide is pulled out the metallic contact piece I strikes the
ivory side and deflects the spring but does not record. If the slide is pushed back
it sticks fast in the hinged plate H and has to be screwed back, thus giving time
for contact making, when the piece I comes against the brass side of the knob A.
Figs. 14 and 15 show a very similar arrangement for billiards, in which however
both contact pieces are on the frame. C is the pointer traversing on screw F;
J, J, two hooked bars affixed to the back of the pointer; A, a spring in contact
with one pole; I, shorter spring in contact with the other pole. The hook as C is
screwed towards figure 1 on the board, draws A forward till it touches I, and makes
contact; as soon however as it reaches figure 1 it passes A, which flics back. When
contact is made by the arrangements already narrated the dial of the billiard
marker registers a game.
The dials can be arranged in any convenient manner and connected in the usual
way. We put ten pool or shell-out dials or slides on one case with a game recording
dial. With billiards we have two dials.
If desirable the ten dials used in pool can be attached to the billiard board, or
there can be slides instead. Indeed the general arrangement of the dials in the
case can be varied endlessly to suit the tastes of purchasers, so it is needless to supply
designs, these forming no part of the Invention.
Having now described my Invention, and the best modes known to me of
carrying it into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not claim as my Inven-
tion the principle of recording billiard games by electricity, nor yet the trains of
wheels for counting dials, as shown, nor the various individual parts taken separately;
but what I believe to be new and desire to claim under the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is,
1st. The arrangement of trembling bell, substantially as herein described, in
which the suspension spring is continued the whole length of the armature and
contact made on to the spring or a platinum or other plate therein instead of on to
the armature itself.
2nd. The arrangement of magnets and of driving arrangement for recording dials,
substantially as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 9, and 10, in which an iron arin P¹ is
continued from the back end of the magnet right round to the armature, by which
the power of the magnet is practically doubled, and the escapement apparatus
combined therewith, in which two or more magnets work a toothed wheel by
means of their armature and teeth.

page_text: 3rd. The mode of recording the game of shell-out by means of recording dials, as
shown.
4th. The mode of recording billiard games by means of suspended contact makers,
as described,
5th. The arrangement of contact makers for game dials, substantially as shown
in Figures 5, 7, and 12.
6th. The modes of recording the working of slides by electric contact, sub-
stantially as described in Figures 11 to 15 inclusive.
7th. The combined arrangement of apparatus forming electric recording apparatus,
as shown.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Ashcroft, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
WM, P. THOMPSON,
British & Foreign Patent Agent,
6, Lord Street,
Liverpool.
JAMES ASHCROFT. (L.S.)