Improved Billiard Checking and Scoring Apparatus.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 28th July, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 28th May, 1897--Accepted 3rd July, 1897.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Billiard Checking and Scoring Apparatus.
I, JOHN GEORGE DIXON, of "Don Villa," Penistone, in the County of York,.
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
At the present time there is practically no check upon billiard markers to ensure
that the number of games played or the amount of time for which a billiard table is
used, is correctly accounted for to the employer.
I purpose with my invention to arrange such a check that if the table is not in use
the several pockets will be obstructed and when the table is required for use the
pockets have to be released, the action of such release indicating on paper operated
by clockwork mechanism that the table has been released. When the table is put
out of use by again obstructing the pockets another indication is made on the paper'
that the table has been again obstructed and is out of use. During the time
between the two marks of the table brought into use and the table put out of use it is
assumed that the table is in use and therefore the time interval has to be accounted
and paid for to the employer.
I also arrange my invention to indicate the scores made at Billiards, and at Pyra-
mids or Pool, the main principle being that a separate pointer or indicator, which
indicates on the paper, is provided for each player.
The way in which I carry out my invention is as follows:-
The main feature of my invention is indicating when the table is brought into use.
and put out of use, the scoring of the various games being subsidiary to this.
Assuming the ordinary billiard table has six pockets (the number of pockets is
immaterial to my invention), each pocket in the normal condition of the table, that
is to say, when it is not in use, has a peg or obstruction fixed preferably in the centre
so that a ball cannot locate in the pocket, the distance between the peg (which is in
the centre) and the side of the pocket being smaller than the diameter of a ball.
Below the pocket is an electrical contact, and in the normal condition of the peg or
obstruction no current is flowing. From the contacts wires are taken to any spot
either near the marker or in a separate room, and in connection with the electric
wires there is any means of indicating by pencil, needle, or otherwise, when the peg
is removed from obstructing the pocket.
In my full machine, where provision is made for indicating not only when the table
is brought into use and put out of use, but for scoring at the game of Billiards, if
there were two players there would be two indicating pencils, needles, or keys, and
again, the same machine if provided for scoring at Pool or Pyramids, would have the
requisite number of keys to represent the number of balls that are used for playing
at Pool or Pyramids, the main idea being that there is a separate key or indicator in
my. machine operated electrically for each player. There would therefore require to
be provided in each machine the maximum number of keys for the maximum
number of balls that may be required for any game on a billiard table.
I take an ordinary clock and arrange, preferably, at the back, a projection of the
spindle of the minute hand, or a pin operated by the minute hand. On either side
are two contact pieces which are normally disconnected and are only connected by the
revolving of the spindle from the minute hand when each minute is made, that is to
say, that at a given minute contact would be made, during the next minute the con-.

page_text: contact pieces would be disconnected and no current flowing, and they would be
reconnected again when the spindle of the minute hand had revolved and another
minute had passed, so that contact is made every minute. Wires are taken from the
clock to a pair of electro-magnets at my machine; such electro-magnets have in connect-
tion with them an armature the upper end of which is formed into a pallet operating
a toothed wheel geared to another toothed wheel, the number of toothed wheels
geared to each other being immaterial. The larger wheel is the means by which the
prepared paper is revolved. I preferably arrange that the paper is marked in inch
divisions, each division representing an hour, so that the clock in setting up a move-
ment every minute would revolve the larger wheel operating the paper one tooth
every time through the electro-magnets, and 60 teeth would be moved in an hour,
the result of this being that the paper would be moved an inch indicating an hour's
use of the table, if the table were in use. The half hours and quarters may also be
included. The keys or indicators of the machine indicating the several balls and
also indicating when the table is brought into use and put out of use, might be
-formed at their ends with the initial letters (if keys are used) representing the initial
letters of the different coloured balls, for instance, R for red, B for brown, W for
white, and so on.
In scoring for Billiards the electric contact setting up the indications on my
machine would be worked in connection with the scoring apparatus now operated by
hand by the marker, the turning of the rolls and the 50 and 100 marks setting up
action on my machine and indicating the scores. Correspondingly the spaces that
the Pool balls would be ordinarily kept in would have pigeon hole slides in connec-
tion therewith, the action of withdrawing the slide setting up a current indicating on
my machine, for instance, that the brown ball was in use, or the withdrawal of.a ball
itself might make contact. The game of Pyramids can be indicated in the same
manner, separate divisions for each ball being made in the receptacle in which the
balls are ordinarily kept, or the withdrawal of the balls from the position in which
they are ordinarily kept would indicate that the table was used for pyramids; until
the whole of the balls are put back in their position the table must be assumed to be
used for Pyramids.
Electrical connection can be made from one clock to any number of machines
indicating the connection with the respective number of tables, as all that is required
is the electric contact to be made every minute. Current by that contact can be set
up in any number of machines so that a room with 20 tables could if desirable be
operated through one clock.
Dated this 27th day of July 1896.
I, JOHN GEORGE DIXON, of "Don Villa," Penistone, in the County of Yorks,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what the same is to.
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
At the present time there is practically no check upon billiard markers to ensure
that the number of games played or the amount time for which a billiard table is
used is correctly accounted for to the proprietor of the table.
I purpose with my invention to arrange such a check that if the table is not in use
the several pockets will be obstructed and when the table is required for use the
pockets have to be released, the action of such release indicating on paper operated

page_text: by clockwork mechanism that the table has been released. When the table is put
out of use by again obstructing the pockets another indication is made on the paper
that the table has been again obstructed and is out of use. During the time between
the two marks of the table brought into use and the table put out of use it is assumed
that the table is in use and therefore the time interval has to be accounted and paid
for to the proprietor.
I also arrange with my invention to indicate the scores made at Billiards, and at
Pyramids or Pool, the main principle being that a separate pointer or indicator,
which indicates on the paper, is provided for each player.
The main feature of my invention is indicating when the table, is brought into use
and put out of use, the scoring of the various games being subsidiary to this.
The way in which I carry out my invention is as follows:-
Assuming the ordinary billiard table has six pockets (the number of pockets is
immaterial to my invention) each pocket in the normal condition of the table, that
is to say, when it is not in use, has a peg or obstruction fixed preferably in the centre
so that a ball cannot locate in the pocket, the distance between the peg (which is in
the centre) and the side of the pocket being smaller than the diameter of a ball.
Below the pocket is an electrical contact, and in the normal condition of the peg or
obstruction no current is flowing. From the contact wires are taken to any spot
either near the marker or in a separate room, and in connection with the electric
wires there is any means of indicating by pencil, needle or otherwise, when the peg
is removed from obstructing the pocket. The means of marking on the paper which
I prefer to employ are type carrying keys, bars or levers similar to those of a type-
writer provided with the necessary figures or signs for indicating.
In my full machine where provision is made for indicating not only when the table
is brought into use and put out of use but for scoring at the gaine of Billiards, if
there were two players there would be two indicating pencils, needles or type keys,
and again the same machine if provided for scoring at Pool or Pyramids would have
the requisite number of type keys or bars to represent the number of balls that are
used for playing at Pool or Pyramids, the main idea being that there is a separate
key or indicator in my machine operated electrically for each player. There would
therefore require to be provided in each machine the maximum number of keys for
the maximum number of balls that may be required for any game on a billiard table,
in addition to the type bars or keys for indicating when the table is brought into and
put out of use.
I take an ordinary clock and arrange, preferably at the back, a projection of the
spindle of the minute band, or a pin operated by the minute hand. On either side
are two contact pieces which are normally disconnected and are only connected by
the revolving of the spindle of the minute land when each minute is made, that is to
say, that at a given minute contact would be made, during the next minute the con-
tact pieces would be disconnected and no current flowing and they would be recon-
nected again when the spindle of the minute hand had revolved and another minute
had passed, so that contact is made every minute. Wires are taken from the clock
to a pair of electro-magnets at my machine; such electro-magnets have in connection
with them an armature the upper end of which is formed into a pallet operating a
toothed wheel geared to another toothed,wheel, the number of toothed wheels geared
to each other being immaterial. The larger wheel is the means by which the pre-
pared paper is revolved. I preferably arrange that the paper is marked in inch divi-
sions, each division representing an hour, so that the clock in setting up movement
every minute would revolve the larger wheel operating the paper one tooth every
time through the electro-magnets so that 60 teeth would be moved in an hour, the
result of this being that the paper would be moved an inch indicating an hour's use,
of the table, if the table were in use. The half hours and quarters may also be in-
eluded. The type carrying bars keys or indicators of the machine for indicating the
several balls and also indicating when the table is brought into use and put out of
use, might be formed or provided at their ends with initial, letters of the different
coloured balls for instance Ŕ for red, B for brown, W for white and so on.

page_text: In scoring for billiards the electric contact setting up the indications on my
machine would be worked in connection with the scoring apparatus now operated by
hand by the marker, the turning of the rolls and the 50 and 100 marks setting up
action on my machine and indicating the scores. Correspondingly the space that the
Pool balls would be ordinarily kept in would have pigeon hole slides in connection
therewith, the action of withdrawing the slide setting up a current indicating on my
machine, for instance, that the brown ball was in use, or the withdrawal of a ball
itself might make contact. The game of Pyramids can be indicated in the same
manner, separate divisions for each ball being made in the receptacle in which the
balls are ordinarily kept, or the withdrawal of the balls from the position in which
they are ordinarily kept would indicate that the table was used for pyramids; until
the whole of the balls are put back in their position the table must be assumed to be
used for Pyramids.
In order that my invention may be better understood and more readily carried into
effect I will now describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings which illus-
trate any apparatus for indicating when a table is brought into and put out of use and
for indicating the 50 and 100 scores at billiards. A machine for also scoring at Pool
and Pyramids would, as before mentioned, be provided with the necessary number of
type carrying keys levers or bars, each operated by a pair of electro-magnets, to
represent the number of balls used in a game of Pool, or Pyramids.
Figure 1 is a front view of a corner pocket of a billiard table.
Figure 2 is a setion A-B of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a side view of my apparatus showing the paper moving mechanism
operated, through electro-magnets, by the current set up by the clock, and the type
carrying keys or levers and the electro-magnets for operating same by means of the
current set up by the removal of the obstructions from the pockets on the table and
the operation of the ordinary mechanical scoring rollers for indicating the fifties and
hundreds.
Figure 4 is a plan of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a plan of the contact making device attached to or operated by the
minute hand spindle of an ordinary clock for setting up the current to operate the
paper moving mechanism,
Figure 6 is a front view of one of the rollers of the ordinary mechanical scoring
apparatus showing the means of making contact for setting up the current to indi-
cate the 50 and 100 scores in a game of billiards the arrangement and operation of
the other roller being precisely the same.
Figure 7 is an end view of Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a plan of the contact making device shown in Figure 6.
The same numbers refer to the same parts in the several figures of the drawings.
Referring to Figure 1, 1 is the corner pocket of the table, 2 is the cloth and 3 the
table leg. 4 is the obstructing slide and 5 the case or guide in which said slide
moves up and down. 6 is the handle by which slide 4 is operated. 7, 7ª are oppo-
sitely inclined or bevelled surfaces formed on slide 4 said bevelled surfaces acting on
contact making pieces or springs 8, 9 and 10 to set up the currents for indicating
when the table is brought into use and put out of use as hereinafter described. The
obstructing slide case or guide 5 is screwed to the leg of the table as shown in Figure
1. 11 (Figure 1) is a billiard ball.
Referring to Figures 3 and 4, 12 and 13 are the side plates or standards forming
the framework of iny improved indicating and scoring apparatus. 14 and 16 are
rollers forming the means by which the specially ruled paper is moved forward each
time contact is set up by the clock as hereinafter described, the weight of the roller
14 resting on the paper giving the necessary adhesion or grip for the forward move-
ment or unwinding of the paper from the supply roll. Roller 14.is preferably formed
as shown in Figure 4 with enlargements or dises 16 and 17 which bear on the paper.
18 is a toothed wheel at one end of roller 15 by which said roller is revolved by means
of pinion 19 of toothed wheel 20 gearing with wheel 18. 21 are the electro-magnets
energized by the current set up by the clock (as hereinafter described with reference

page_text: to Figure 6) the armature 22 of which is provided with an extension formed at its
end as a pallet 23 gearing with the teeth of wheel 20 and moving said wheel a dis-
tance of one tooth every time contact is made and broken by the action of the clock.
24 and 25 (Figure 4) are the magnets, say for example, for respectively indicating
when the table is brought into use (by the removal of the obstructing slides 4 from
any one of the pockets of the table) and when the table is put out of use (by again
putting up the obstructions) the armatures of said magnets being formed with or
having attached thereto arms or levers 24 and 25 which are provided with the
necessary type or other means of indicating on the moving paper when the table is
brought into use and put out of use, for instance the letter "I" might indicate "in
use," and "O" "out of use," or any other suitable signs may be employed. 26 and
27, and 28 and 29, are (for example) respectively the magnets which when energized
by the current set up through the operation of the ordinary mechanical scoring or
marking apparatus indicate the 50 and 100 scores of the spot and plain ball players in a
game of billiards.
26 and 27, 28 and 29 are respectively the type carrying
keys, levers or arms (similar to 24 and 25) for indicating or marking on the paper
the 50 and 100 scores. In Figure 5, 30 is the minute hand spindle of an ordinary
clock, on which is mounted a grooved disc 31 of insulating material, a pin or strip 32
of conducting material being fitted to said dise; 33 and 34 are contact making
springs or strips attached to insulating block 35. Wires 36 and 37 connect
springs 33 and 34 through a battery to electro-magnets 21 for operating the paper
moving mechanism. 38 Figure 3isaroll ofspecially ruled paper. 39,40,41,42,43 and 44
Figure 4) are the terminals for connecting magnets 24 to 29 inclusive to the respec-
tive circuit wires: The paper 38 (Figure 3) passes between an ink ribbon (or other
suitable means for marking) and a striking block or table 45 so that when lever 24"
strikes downwards on the paper an impression will be made. The armatures and
their extensions or arms 24° to 29 inclusive are fulcrumed at 46 Figure 3.
Referring to Figures 6, 7 and 8, 47 is one of the indicating rollers of an ordinary
billiard marking apparatus (the other roller being precisely the same in its arrange-
ment and operation is not shown) provided at its end with two contact making
pins 48 and 49 for setting up electrical contact when the roller has been moved to indi-
cate scores of 50 and 100, for example pin 48 coming in contact with springsorstrips 50
when the roller has turned to indicate 50 and pin 49 coming in contact with
springs or strips 51 when the roller has turned to indicate 100,
The operation of my invention is as follows:-
.66
Assuming the table to be out of use all obstructing slides 4 (Figures 1 and 2) being
up; under these conditions no current is flowing and my apparatus as illustrated in
Figures 3 and 4 is inoperative. When it is desired to play, say for example, a game
of billiards the obstructing slides 4 must be moved clear of the pockets and when any
one of such slides has been moved clear of the pocket or surface of the table the
bevelled or inclined surface 7 (Figure 2) in the downward movement of the slide 4
bears against spring 8 and moves said spring into contact with spring or strip 9 which,
being connected to the circuit wire running to magnets 24 (Figure 4) a current is
set up energizing said magnet 24 which attracts its armature thereby moving down-
ward arm or lever 24ª (Figure 3) which strikes the paper 38 marking thereon the
letter "I" (or any other suitable sign) indicating that the table has been brought
Assuming the clock (Figure 5) to be set going, when the minute hand
spindle 30 and disc 31 have made a complete revolution (assuming the starting point
to be from pin 32 in the direction away from the ends of springs 33 and 34) the pin 32
coming in contact with the ends of springs or strips 33 and 34 sets up a current
through the battery along the circuit wire or wires to magnets 21'(see Figure 3)
attracting armature 22 operating the pallet 23 which moves toothed wheel 20 one
tooth forward, a complete movement of one tooth being effected by the return of the
armature to its normal position (out of contact with the electro-magnets) by means
of a suitable spring when the pin 32 (Figure 5) gets beyond the ends of springs 33
and 34, the curreut being thereby broken. It will therefore be seen that the paper 38
(Figure 3) has moved forward a distance corresponding with the movement of one

page_text: tooth of wheel 20 on the completion of every minute, the gear wheels (preferably)
being so arranged that the paper has moved one inch (60 teeth) in an hour the paper
being divided or ruled in inches to indicate hours, half inches for half hours, and so
on. Supposing the game to have lasted half an hour, when it is finished and one of
the obstructing slides 4 is again put up obstructing the pocket or table the bevel 7
(Figure 2) on slide 4 (which when said slide was moved down as above described
passed below the end of the spring or pivoted arm 9) in the upward movement of the
slide or obstruction bears against the opposite side of pivoted arm 8 and moves said
arm into contact with strip or spring 10 thereby setting up another current through
the wire connected to magnet. 25, Figure 4, the arm or lever 25ª on the armature of
which is moved downwards and striking on the paper makes the necessary mark, or
sign, to indicate that the table is out of use, for instance the letter "O." The paper
having moved half an inch owing to the 30 revolutions of the minute hand spindle of
the clock (being the half hour occupied in playing the game) the indications "I,"
when the table was brought into use and "O" when the table is put out of use are
approximately half an inch apart on the ruled paper, thus giving a clear indication of
the length of time the table was in use.
Referring to Figures 6, 7 and 8 and assuming that the spot ball player has scored
50 and that the roller 47 is appropriated for marking his scores on the ordinary
mechanical marker, when said roller 47 has turned to indicate 50 the pin 48 in pass-
ing the ends of springs or strips 50 (Figure 8) makes contact and sets up a current to
magnets 26 the armature of which is attracted and noves down its arm or lever 26
which strikes (in a similar manner to that described with reference to magnets
24 and 25) on the paper and indicates or marks 50 thereon; when 100 is made by the
same player and roller 47 is again turned, pin 49 (Figure 8) when passing springs or
strips 51 makes contact and sets up a current to magnets 27 (Figure 4) which operate
in the same way as magnet 26 the only difference being that 100 is indicated on the
paper instead of 50,
The operation of the mechanical marking roller for the plain ball player and its
action on my apparatus is precisely the same as that just described.
I do not confine myself to the precise form of obstructing slide as illustrated as it
is obvious it may be modified without departing from my-invention, neither do I con-
fine myself to the number of such obstructing slides or their exact position on the
table, as, for instance, in the case of a table having no pockets, the obstructions
might be arranged in the corners or in any suitable position on the surface of the
table, the movement of said obstructions clear of the surface of the table setting up a
current to operate my apparatus for indicating when the table is brought into use
and the replacing of the obstruction or obstructions setting up another current indi-
cating on my apparatus that the table is out of use in a similar manner to that herein
described. My apparatus for indicating the scores at Pool or Pyramids operates in
precisely the same way as described with reference to scoring at Billiards, a machine
having provision for scoring at these games as well as at billiards having the requisite
extra number of electro-magnets and indicating arms, levers or keys.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be distinctly understood,
that I do not claim anything described or claimed in my prior specifications of
Letters Patent Nos. 2928 of 1896 and 10365 of 1896, but what I do claim is :-
1. Apparatus for checking the length of time for which a billiard table or the like
is in use, consisting in the combination of an obstruction or obstructions on the table,
an intermittent contact making device such as illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings
annexed, for the purpose specified, and indicating apparatus substantially as herein
described with reference to Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings, the removal of the
obstruction or obstructions from the table operating said apparatus to mark a per-
manent indication on specially ruled or marked paper that the table is brought into
use, the replacing of the obstruction or obstructions making another permanent mark
on the paper indicating that it is put out of use, the distance between said marks or

page_text: indications on the paper showing the time for which the table is supposed to be in
use.
2. The combination with an obstruction or obstructions on a billiard table, an inter-
mittent contact maker and indicating mechanism as claimed in claim 1, of contacts
operating in connection with ordinary mechanical marking or scoring apparatus, all
arranged and operating substantially as herein described with reference to the accom-
panying drawings for the purposes specified.
3. The improved checking and scoring apparatus for use in connection with billiard
tables and the like, arranged and operating substantially as herein described with
reference to the drawings annexed.
JOHN P. O'DONNELL, Fel. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
70 & 71 Palace Chambers, Westminster, S.W., Agent for the said Applicant.