Game, Think a Dot
date: label: date made
content: ca 1965
name: label: maker
content: E.S.R., Inc.
notes: label: Description
content: This marble-operated game shows an array of eight discs, each of which can be either yellow or blue. A set of eight plastic rods on the inside – each linked to one blue and one yellow disc – can rest in either of two positions, determining the disc shown. A marble dropped on one of three holes along the top edge moves those rods it encounters, shifting the color of the corresponding disc. The goal of the game is to move from a standard starting position to a specified pattern of colors in a designated number of marble drops.
label: Description
content: The paper box holding the game and its four plastic marbles also includes two leaflets, and sheets listing patterns observed by one player. A mark on the front of the game reads: THINKaDOT (/) ESR. Text on the box reads: CAN COMPUTERS REALLY BE FUN? (/) THINK a DOT (/) is a computer game and is fun! (/) DELIGHTFUL FOR 3 YEAR OLDS (/) FASCINATING FOR TEENAGERS (/) INTRIGUING FOR ADULTS (/) CHALLENGING FOR EVERYONE (/) FUN FOR EVERYONE -- TAKE THINK a DOT (/) TO SCHOOL, WORK, PARTIES AND CHALLENGE YOUR FRIENDS (/) ANOTHER E.S.R. COMPUTER FOR FUN. Further text reads: Es.S.R. INC. 1965 MADE IN U.S.A.
label: Description
content: Joseph Weisbecker (1932-1990), remembered for his work at RCA Laboratories, filed for a U.S. patent for the game in 1965, sent in a revised application in 1966, and received patent 3388483 on June 18, 1968.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: New Jersey, Montclair
topic: label: Subject
content: Mathematics
label: Subject
content: Mathematical Recreations
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Mathematics
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of John Garver
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1978.0067.60
label: catalog number
content: 1978.0067.60
label: accession number
content: 1978.0067
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Game
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: plastic (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: paper (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 5 cm x 22.5 cm x 18 cm; 1 31/32 in x 8 27/32 in x 7 3/32 in