US85990A - Levi branson - Google Patents

Description

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LEVI BRANSON, OF RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLIA..

'Letters Patent No. 85,990, dated .Tarma/ry 19, 1869.

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To all whom-it may concern Be it known that I, LEVI BRANSON, of Raleigh, in the county of Wake, and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and improved Geographical Game; and i do hereby declare that the ibllowing is a full, clear, and exact description vof the constructioirand operation ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which the board or table employed in thegarne, andl forming apart of my invention, is represented by a p an. n v

- The objectof thisinvention is to produce an interesting and agreeable 4game,t-he successful playing of which shall depend entirely upon the skill of the player,

and which cannot he played by'any one without his acquiring thereby avast amount of correct information as'to the conformation, extent, population, and resources of the geographical divisions and subdivisions of the earth, or of some 'particular continent, nation, or territory thereof. 4

VTM-instruments necessary Afor the game are- First, a table, somewhat resembling a carom-table v.for billiards, with or without spring-cushions around it, and having on .its surface a correct delineation of any part of the earths surface that it may he considered niost important' to study, according to the age, progress, condition, or dwelling-place of those who are expectedto use the table; and, v

Secondly, in connection with such table, a set of balls, (one, two, .or inore,) to be played 'on the surface of the table, with or without a one, as may be preferred. Y l

The table canA bev made-with maps on both sides, 'and so that it can be used with one side or the other uppermost, and when so constructed, one s'idecould have la large map, representing, for instance, the whole earth, while the other hada. map of the country, state,

`or ,county where the table was to be-used. Th'es'e maps.

couldfall be attachable anddetachame," so as to be changed at pleasure. Instead ot' a large table, -like that abovedescribed, a

Afsmailer and portable one, similar in size andshap'e'to v a chess-board or bakgaxnmonhoard, night lbe einployed, and in connection" therewith,-jballs'of smaller "size, the dimensions and form'of the apparatus being varied according to circumstances.

In connection with such table and balls, I mark,

either upon the table Within the limits of the division, orupou an independent counter-board, the name df each geographical subdivision shown by such map, and the figures denoting its population,.area, wealth, and lsuch other statistics or data'as it maybe desirable to teach in this wayV There may be a slight depression at the 'site of the capital of a state, or of some important city, and the population of such city 'may alsobe marked.

In thedrawing- 4oc represent the' cushions `of theI table, which en-l in the State of North Carolina.

close, in this particular case, a map of several states of the American Union, with a portion of the contiguous sea.

To pla),y this game', one party stations his ball at some particular point on the map to be agreed upon, (for in stance in the open sea, at 12s,) and plays his ball so as to hit one of' the opposite cushions, or so as to cross any line on the table, any river, chain of mountains, &c., and then to lodge in some state, as, for instance, He, or his second, then marks down on thecounter-board, the name, population, area, wealth, or figures representing other statistics of that state, and if -t-he ball lodges in the depression at the site of Raleigh, or of New York city, Charleston, or any other city, he marks down the population, o r similar statistics of such city or town. All

these sums added together give his score for that'play or inning.

His opponent then proceeds to score in the same way, and at the expiration of ten, or any other number ofplaysmdnnings, as may be agreed upon, the sum of all the scores on each side is obtained by addition, and the player having the largest number is the winner.

Instead of scoring at the end of his own play, a more exciting game could beplayed if each player were to score at the end of his opponents play, as follows, viz:

VFirst player plays his ball, say, into New York city. He does not then score, but awaits his opponents play. Second player then plays to strike first players ball, drive it ontof New York, and leave it in the Atlaltic ocean, or in Lake Michigan, where it counts nothing, while his own ball goes to Philadelphia or INew Orleans, where it, counts heavily.

At the end of second player-s play, first player scores acwrding to the present situation of his ball, and then plays to drive his opponent into 'the water, and leave his own ball'in a fortunate position, and so on to the end.

If it were too easy a shot to play directly on the ball lodged in New York city, the player essaying to remove it therefrom ould'be required to playhis ball across some river, or against an vopposite cushion, or to a certain distance, lliebre his ball would be allowed to Vmove the New York ball, and if he did not do so, should lose his shot.

.Many other variations of the gamexmight be suggested. V l

My'desig'n'is not tojndieate any particular rul'es by which the balls are to be made to traverse the table and get to their scores, but to describe the apparatus employed, and, in general terms, the way in which it can be used, so as to 'combine recreationand pleasure -with instruction, to a degree difficult to attain in any other way.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to .secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The table for the geographical game above de- To the above specification of my invention, I have scribed, substantially as shown and specied. signed 'my hand, this 31st dwy'of July, 1868'.

2. The entire apparatus above described, consisting essentially of the table with map-surface, and the Witnesses: v playing-balls, when combined together to produce a CEAS. A. PETTI'JE.` game, substantially iu the' manner set forth.. S. C. KEMON.

LEVI BRANSON.

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