excerpt from the 1839 Swedish book Hand-bibliothek för sällskapsnöjen

The following tidbits of pinball ancestry were shared with me by user PaulKersey on the Gaming Alexandria Discord.

Booklet series name : Hand-bibliothek för sällskapsnöjen : eller systematiskt ordnande spel, lekar och konster
Edited by G. J. Billberg
Publisher : Stockholm : L. J. Hjerta, 1838-1839 

1839 Hand-bibliothek för sällskapsnöjen pages 86+87

1839 Hand-bibliothek för sällskapsnöjen p88

 

Transcription via Paul:

FORTUNA.

För detta spel erfordras ett vertikalt jemnt stående bord (a), som är rundadt i öfra ändan, i hvilken rundel är utmärkt plats för 9 käglor, deraf de 3 medlersta stå midt emellan båda sidorna (b). Omkring de 3 sidorna och hälften af nedra ändan löper en ränna för klotets lopp. Denna är betäckt från halfva långsidan till höger (c); äfvensom nedra ändan (dd) är betäckt, deraf likväl locket (dcee) är gångbart, till förvarande af käglor och klot. Början af rännan från (e) till (d) är långslut, och vid (d) har klotet sin vanliga plats, hvarifrån det utstötes med en kort mas (f), sådan som i Billard, men af rännans bredd. 

Spelsättet.
Spelarne kunna vara så många som hälst, och beräkningen sker såsom i vanligt kägelspel. Klotet stötes från (g); men om det ej hinner (c), omstötes. I öfrigt räknas bom, såsom i vanligt kägelspel.

 

Machine translation:

FORTUNA.

For this game a vertical, even table (a) is required, which is rounded at the upper end, in which round is a place for 9 skittles, of which the 3 middle ones stand midway between both sides (b). Around the 3 sides and half of the lower end runs a chute for the ball to run. This is covered from half the long side to the right (c); although the lower end (dd) is covered, the lid (dcee) is still operable, for the storage of skittles and balls. The beginning of the chute from (e) to (d) is the long end, and at (d) the ball has its usual place, from which it is ejected with a short mass (f), such as in Billiards, but of the width of the chute.

Method of play.

The players can be as many as desired, and the calculation is made as in ordinary skittles. The ball is ejected from (g); but if it does not have time (c), it is overturned. Otherwise, a miss is counted, as in ordinary skittles.

 

This game of fortuna is similar to 'naco' bowling tables. For me this highlights how the game names really shifted between countries and decades, so I am grateful for the diagram and description.

 

Another tidbit, this from a 1795 Swedish newspaper:

I was told Fortuna-spelet med des tillbehör = “The Fortuna game with its equipment.” so we do not know for sure what time of table this was, but it shows that Fortuna was a name used for tables like this going back to the 18th century. 

 

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