"Enigma" Encrypting Machine Used by the German Military in WWII (1944). ...

Description

"Enigma" Encrypting Machine Used by the German Military in WWII (1944). Enigma machines, the vast majority of which were destroyed by Nazi Germany to prevent them falling into the hands of the Allies, were used during the war to send and receive encrypted messages. The three cipher rotor design, called the Enigma I, was used from 1934 until the end of the war. Considered nearly "unbreakable", its only inherent flaw (beyond human error, which would ultimately be its downfall) was the fact that the machine could scramble the letters into any one of 17,576 combinations except the use of the original letter. However, it would be human error, such as signing off each communication with "Heil Hitler" (as showcased in "The Imitation Game"), that allowed the Allies to deconstruct many of the cipher's coded communications. Though widely employed by Germany during the war, enigma machines are now very scarce, as those not destroyed now rest in unknown watery graves. Additionally, Winston Churchill ordered all enigma machines to be destroyed at the end of the war. Fewer than 250 used during WWII are believed to still exist.

The legendary "Enigma" Machine - used by Nazi Germany to encipher the most top-secret messages.

The present machine is a three-rotor Enigma I with the "A20694" serial numbers of the three Bakelite rotors marked "V", "IV" and "II", respectively, matching the "20694" stamped on the plate beneath the rotors. Germans began using more Bakelite in the construction of their Enigma rotors as the war progressed due to metal shortage in Germany. The reflector also bears the matching "A20694" serial number. Near the hub of each rotor bears the Waffenamt stamp - a black eagle above a swastika. The serial number engraved on the plate attached to the keyboard reads: "A / 20735/ jla / 44". Upon the interior of the wooden lid are the operating instructions in German, above the "QWERTZUIO" mechanical keyboard which would light up when in operation. (26) Light bulbs exist on the lamp board, with (10) spare bulbs mounted in the lid. The socket locations are marked "Kabelprufung" (cable test) and "Lampenprufung" (lamp test). The original battery is no longer present. Leather strap for the wooden case is intact and present. This machine has been restored and the mechanicals are untested. An exceptional example of this iconic World War II artifact. Always in high demand, sales have been recorded well in excess of $100,000. The entire machine and case weigh approximately 28.5 pounds and measures 11 x 13.25 x 6 inches.

Special thanks to Dan Perera of enigmamuseum.com for his contribution in this listing.

Please see the online description for a full translation of the label inside the lid of the wooden case.

More Information: Translation of the label inside the lid of the wooden case:

Please note!
Refer to the instruction manual for the cipher machine (H. Dv. G. 13)
1. To clean the roller contacts, turn each roller forward and backward several times.
2. To clean the key contacts, press all keys vigorously several times before switching on the power. Suppress and rock it up, keeping one button pressed.
3. When adjusting the signs visible in the windows, make sure that the rollers are properly locked.
4. The unmistakable double-pole connectors are to be inserted all the way into their socket pairs. The front wooden flap should then be closed, otherwise 3 lamps may light up at the same time.
5. If no lamp lights up when the button is pressed, the battery, its contact springs, its connections are on To check the changeover switch and the changeover switch.
6. If one or more lamps do not light up when the button is pressed, the corresponding lamps are the Contacts underneath, the cables of the double-pole connectors, the sockets including their end plates, the roller contacts, the working contacts under the respective pressed keys and the idle contacts under the keys corresponding to them, and to clean up dirt and oxidation. (See also point 2).
From machine no. A 4388 from the opening on the right side of the lamp field is used for lamp test.
Starting from machine No. A 4388, the outermost left and right bushings of the middle one are used for cable testing Row on the plug board and the cable test lamp on the left side of the lamp field.
7. Roll axis and roller bushes are to be kept clean and like all other bearing points and lightly grease again with resin- and acid-free oil. The fixed contacts of the rollers are all Sand over for 6-8 weeks with polishing paper and rub with a little soaked oil. The key contacts, the lamp contacts and the short circuit plates must be protected against oiI.
8. Key information is given either by numbers or letters.
To convert the numbers into letters or vice versa, the following table is used:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26