Hagelin
M-209-B Tactical Mechanical Cipher Machine, ca. 1945
Lot Closed
July 17, 06:08 PM GMT
Estimate
5,000 - 7,000 USD
We may charge or debit your saved payment method subject to the terms set out in our Conditions of Business for Buyers.
Read more.Lot Details
Description
Hagelin
M-209-B Tactical Mechanical Cipher Machine, ca. 1945.
Portable hand-operated pin & lug mechanical cipher machine with six coding wheels, in original green metal integral case (7 x 6 x 4 inches) with metal label to lid reading: “SIGNAL CORPS / CONVERTER M-209-B. 69137 : CACH. 19449-PHILA-44-24,” ca. 1945. Yellow quality control stamp on case marked “S C 960”.
A lightweight and portable mechanical cipher machine, the Hagelin M-209 was developed in Sweden for the US Army. German cryptanalysts knew the M-209 as AM-1, “American Machine #1,” due to its popularity with the US Army.
Using 6 mechanically driven coding wheels, text was entered one letter at a time, and the encoded letters were printed on a paper tape using a built-in printer. Unlike the Enigma line of encoding machines, this required no electricity to operate. This, coupled with its light weight, made it a much more versatile machine for tactical messages on the battlefield.
REFEFENCES:
Kahn, David. The Codebreakers. [New York]: Scribner, [1996].