Who knows anything about this encryption device?
There is currently a cipher cylinder with German labeling offered on eBay. Can a reader say something about this rare device?
Cipher cylinders have been around for centuries. My book “Codebreakers vs. Codemakers” tells their story, which began with the following device:
Quelle/Source: Google Books
This cylinder, invented by Giovanni Fontana in the 15th century, was not used for encryption, but for memorization. By twisting the individual disks, it was possible to memorize six letters – for example, the UCANAU shown in the picture. Six letters are not much, but it was just the idea for now.
Cipher cylinder
In the book “Mechanisches Memorieren und Chiffrieren um 1430” by Walter Oberschelp and Horst Kranz, you can read that Fontana apparatus could also be used to encrypt. In the following picture, for example, the word KRYPTOLOGIE is encoded in SWWUEADHAEO:
Quelle/Source: Schmeh
Probably the best known cipher cylinder is the M-94, which was used by the US Army between the world wars:
Quelle/Source: Schmeh
I would also like to mention a device that was manufactured in Germany shortly before the Second World War and has already caused some guesswork:
Quelle/Source: Schmeh
Almost nothing is known about this “Heimsoeth-and-Rinke cylinder”. This has not changed after I blogged about it several times.
Another mysterious cipher cylinder
There is currently another cipher cylinder on eBay that I know nothing about. Thanks to a tip from David Cripps, I came across it. Here is a picture of it:
Quelle/Source: eBay
The eBay seller does not provide any information about this device. To my knowledge, it is not mentioned anywhere in the literature. I have never seen it in a museum or with a collector. Here are ten more images:
Quelle/Source: eBay
Quelle/Source: eBay
Quelle/Source: eBay
Quelle/Source: eBay
Quelle/Source: eBay
Quelle/Source: eBay
Quelle/Source: eBay
Quelle/Source: eBay
Quelle/Source: eBay
Quelle/Source: eBay
As you can see, the device is labeled with the German word “Reihe”, which suggests that it comes from Germany, Austria or Switzerland.
Whether one uses the device as described above is also not clear to me. One could also use the window and the row of characters below it as a replacement table that one changes regularly.
Cryptohistorically, I would place the cylinder around the twenties. Whether the material and the construction confirm this, I cannot judge. It is possible that it is a prototype. In general, I find the design (with a cover around the cylinder and a lever on the side) quite elaborate for such a simple device.
Can a reader say more about it? I will gladly accept any relevant information.
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Further reading: Die Tauschek-Verschlüsselungsmaschine
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