ELECTRONIC ENIGMA-E, 2009

Paul Reuvers and Marc Simons in the Netherlands decided to make this machine in 2001, after much research and overcoming many problems it was launched as a kit in 2003, it is much smaller than the real thing and is built around an original 4-rotor type machine. It does exactly what the original electro mechanical version did but using modern electronic components and software created by them. Two or more machine can encrypt and decode messages in the same way as the original. It has replaced the normal coding wheels with a led display and the patch board (Steckerbrett) on the front with normal links as in the original but with different plugs. Changing the days code would be done by up and down buttons above and below the LED display. The message to be decoded is entered on the keypad and the result of each key pressed is displayed momentarily on the illuminated panel above as in the original. A technical explanation of how the original machine worked together with all the variants that were produced. The idea was conceived in 1918 by German engineer Arthur Scherbius and Patented under the name Enigma in 1923 they were produced up to World War Two and used until the 1950's. In 1944 an addition was added known as the 'UHR' a 40 position switch which connected into the plug board. An electronic kit is also available for this unit.

Donated by Valerie Croft

A1682