
This is a Swiss
Tasten-Drücker-Maschine (T-D) cipher machine. It
is the military model with the cipher rotors ("contact
wheels") A, B, C, D, E, & F and stepping rotors
("notch rings") 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 & 22/1
("red drive wheel"). All spares, cables, attachments
are included and stored in the lid.
Included are the original
1948 classified SECRET (declassified 1998) service manual
(bi-lingual written in German and French). A photocopy
of the SECRET (declassified 1992) Cipher Procedures manual is
also included (also bi-lingual German and French).
According to the article The
Swiss NEMA Cipher Machine by Geoff Sullivan and Frode
Weierund written for Cryptologia 23(4), October, 1999
which cites the Swiss Army Procurement Agency approved the
machine in March 1945 and ordered 640 of them to be produced by
Zellweger AD company of Uster (near Zurich) in April 1945.
Serial numbers started at 100 and the last machines were
numbered in the 740 range. This machine went into service in
1947 as the NEMA Model 45.
For those interested in the
function of the machine, there is an outstanding NEMA simulator
written by Geoff Sullivan that duplicates the operation of the
machine on any Windows based computer. It is available for
download at Frode Weierund's CERN page here.
The condition is excellent and near
mint throughout, except as noted in the detailed descriptions
below.
$9,999.99
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to Enlarge) |
Description,Size,
Condition |
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A view of the machine in the
normal operation mode, with all covers closed, counter
reset, and rotor engaged.
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A view showing the
rotor cover raised, showing the cipher wheels |
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A view of the
machine's internals, with the front cover of the
machine raised to expose the lamps, rotor cage, and battery
compartment. Battery is not present nor included. |
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A view of the lid
with the contents stowed, including the remote lamp board,
power cables, spare lamps, two spare rotor covers (for the
E and F rotors). There is a Bakelite lamp holder for a
standard light bulb. There is a 1 inch piece broken on the
Bakelite, however it is present and could be repaired
easily. |
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This is the
original GEHEIM (SECRET) service manual, numbered and
stamped as declassified by the Swiss government in 1998.
Shown are the two military rotor assemblies, the E & F
contact wheels with the attached 17 & 18 notched rings.
The contact side of the E rotor and the notch side of the F
rotor is shown. |
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Same as above with
the rotors turned to expose the opposite sides. |
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A view of the all-metal case, closed with two numbered
matching keys numbered to the T-D 442 set. The sticker
indicates the machine is to be used only in the event of
mobilization for war and similar instructions in German.
It measures 13 inches wide,
14-1/2 inches deep and 5-3/4 inches high, as shown. The
strap adds a bit the to the depth.
There is some slight wear to
the paint, most noticeable on the rivets, from storage
and light handling.
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A view of the
front showing the latch, lock, and leather carry
strap. |