posted February 08, 2002 02:07 PM            

Here's a fine piece of Cold War memorabilia - a Hagelin-Cryptos C-52 mechanical cipher device. This is a direct descendant of the well-known WWII-vintage M-209 converter. Both machines were designed by Boris Hagelin and operate on the same general principles, but there the similarities end. The M-209 was very much a wartime design and made use of 'non-strategic materials' in it's construction - you'll see many pot metal castings & other cost-cutting measures in the M-209. This C-52 is a Swiss-built gem, lots of stainless steel & anodized aluminum & hard-chrome plated parts here. I believe the C-52 was first manufactured in 1952.

Like the M-209, this C-52 has six rotors. While the M-209 came with a fixed complement of rotors, the C-52 can be fitted with many different combinations of rotors - installed in this unit are rotors having 29, 31, 37, 41, 43, & 47 positions. (Notice that two of the rotors are clear anodized and four are black anodized - the differences are strictly cosmetic and there are no operational or functional differences in the rotors.)

This machine falls into the 'pin & lug' class of cryptographic machinery. The rotors have movable pins attached - as the rotors spin, the presence or absence of a pin at a particular position on a rotor will either move or not move a lug on an adjacent rotating cage. If the lug does move, it advances the print drum by one notch - if the lug does not move then the print drum does not advance. This whole 'pin & lug' arrangement amounts to nothing more than a mechanical Pseudo-Random Number Generator. This particular PRNG has a repeat period of 2,756,205,443 cycles (29 * 31 * 37 * 41 * 43 * 47). To encrypt, the output of this mechanical PRNG is added to the letter to be encrypted - to decrypt, the corresponding subtraction is done. Bear in mind that all this is done mechanically - there is not a single wire in this little marvel of Cold War engineering.

Visible here are the six rotor assemblies and the lug cage. Any or all of the six rotor assemblies can be removed by sliding out the shaft on which they all rotate. The print drum also rides on that same shaft. The lugs are visible as the shiny tabs on the lug cage, which is just to the rear of the six rotors. The Zeiss-Ikon lock is also visible in this view. The small tab below the rotors is the latch which holds the bottom cover on the base - release it to access the paper roll contained in the base. The ID tag is intact and reads:
Type C-52
Series D
No. 28358
CRYPTO AG
ZUG, SWITZERLAND

This unit has seen some use, and I'd very much like to know it's history. It does not have a hinged outer cover, and I believe that one was never attached to it. I do not have a key for this unit (the lock is double-acting, locking both the unit's outer cover and also the rotor cover). I have defeated the locking arrangement so that the rotor cover will open, but should you desire to have a key made for the unit the locking arrangement can be easily & simply restored. All the necessary pieces are intact and still in place - you would have only to get the key made and then reattach the locking lever to the lock arm.

There are no broken parts on this C-52, no dings or dents anywhere. The paint is factory original and in very good shape - it is dark gloss gray with sort of a pebbled hammertone texture. No corrosion or rust anywhere - there is no bare steel in the entire unit, any steel is either stainless or hard-chrome plated. There is a slight scar in the paint (visible in the photo above) just above the ID tag, where this particular C-52 was clamped onto an accessory keyboard/base.

The unit is completely functional in every way - all controls work freely and as intended. I have cleaned out the old paper dust, re-lubed the unit, rejuvenated the ink rollers, and generally tidied it up a bit. The C-52 uses small rolls of 11/16" paper tape which are stored inside the base of the machine. These original rolls are unobtainable of late, but I am including in this auction two large 8" rolls of 11/16" teletype tape - this tape works well in the C-52 and will last you a very long time. Note that some undisciplined philistine has milled a slot (visible in the photo below) in the rear of the machine's base to allow the use of an external tape roll.

Visible here are the CIPHER-DECIPHER selector, the character counter reset knob, and the paper tape advance knob. The extra paper slot can be seen on the rear of the machine's base. You'll notice two extra holes in the base and a hole in the end cover plate, and also slots on some of the controls - all these are required to attach the C-52 to a motorized keyboard base assembly. These are not modifications - all C-52s have these little extras.

As the paper tape comes out of the C-52, it is partially split down the middle by sharp edges present on the tape pinch rollers - half of the paper tape shows the plaintext and the other half shows the corresponding ciphertext. Done for security reasons I'd guess, so that the C-52 operator can do his encryption job and then give only the ciphertext to the radio or morse code operator - in this way the radio op never sees the message plaintext.

In CIPHER mode, the C-52 automatically groups the printed characters into five letter groups. In DECIPHER mode, the printed text comes out just as originally entered, except that one of the 26 letters is replaced with a space. (This machine is set up to use letter "Z" as the space character, but you can easily change the substituted letter or entirely defeat the substitution function.)

This C-52 is the kind of thing you will see in the NSA museum at Ft. Meade, Maryland - it is a great-looking piece of Cold War equipment and will look real fine next to your Vibroplex or your GRA-71 code burst keyer. As well as being a fascinating example of mechanical design (right up there with the Curta calculator), this machine is quite rare lately. Many of these Hagelin machines, both manual devices like this and also 50 baud teletype cipher machines, were built and used in the days before computer cryptography took over, but as a rule the machines were destroyed rather than sold as surplus. Hagelin machines found use in many commercial concerns & governmental entities - suspicious folks who jealously guarded their secrets and who could, toward that end, afford to destroy the machines rather than let them fall into the hands of an enemy or an unfriendly rival or even a curious public. You just do not see many of these available lately - they are already tucked away in private collections, or they have gone the crusher & scrapyard route, or possibly just taken that long drop to the ocean depths.

posted July 22, 2002 09:06 AM            

The name Hell refers to the Hell company of Kiel ­ this no longer exists as such having been incorporated into other companies.

C52’s command a good price, especially when in really good condition. Well, this machine is the German version, has some differences (maybe even improvements ­ but don’t tell the Swiss I said that) to the standard C52 layout and it is in excellent condition.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2124060169

Starting bid: US $1,000.00 (reserve) (Buy It Now for US $8,000.00) (jalex-uk)
Ending price:
Auction ends: Jul-28-02 05:01:18 PDT

posted January 06, 2003 10:09 AM            

I have several spare pots with replacement typewheels and letter rings. ONE pot is on offer here.

To a basic C52 it is possible to fit letter rings in a variety of languages. Rings with numbers were also a possibility but, in this case, the letter ring has in an Arabic character set. Motor-driven Keyboards were also made to match. (If you need a keyboard unit (B52 or B62 / B621) then give me a call - I have a couple spare to be ebay’ed later).

There were variations and developments in Typewheels too. The item shown has a ‘clutch’ mechanism built in and this enables a ‘fully incremental mode’ of encipherment to be used.

These Typewheels have been tried in several C52 machines and not all fit my C52 properly. Why is this? I do not know but the intention with my own is to use the pot and contents to create a separate side display alongside my own C52 variant.

It is possible that this item may not fit a particular C52 and this should be borne in mind by the bidder.

These pots are made in tough plastic, approximately 10 centimetres tall and contain one Typewheel and one letter ring.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=135&item=753217361

Starting bid: GBP 75.00 (BIN 335.00) (reserve) (jalex-uk)
Ending price: No bids
Auction ends: Jan-15-03 09:21:19 PST

posted January 08, 2003 10:10 AM            

Whatever - this case is for C52 type machines, as made by Crypto AG of Zug, and contains the locking mechanism plus springs, bits and pieces as shown.

Should you need any of these parts then this may be your only opportunity to get them - short of breaking up another serviceable machine.

Please note that the case is in a grey finish rather than green whilst the base, a perfect fit, IS in the more standard colour.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=135&item=753775737

Starting bid: GBP 75.00 (BIN 335.00) (reserve) (jalek-uk)
Ending price: No bids
Auction ends: Jan-17-03 11:42:37 PST

posted January 08, 2003 10:12 AM            

Pretty much any C52 machine will work with it but do note the location of a 3.5 mm plug that expects to find a suitable socket in the side of the C52 - to provide a ‘paper out detect’ function.

This is a clean unit, you’ll not find much better, but comes with no cables.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=135&item=753785874

Starting bid: GBP 100.00 (BIN 3,500.00) (reserve) (jalex-uk)
Ending price: GBP 100.00 (reserve not met) (criptofabio)
Auction ends: Jan-17-03 12:23:49 PST

posted January 08, 2003 10:13 AM            

Pretty much any C52 machine will work with it but do note that there is NO plug (on this unit) to locate into the socket in the side of the C52 - there’s no ‘paper out detect’ function here

This is a clean unit, you’ll not find much better, but comes with no cables.

Best of all (?) this absolutely gorgeous brushed aluminium case is included. By removing the outer lid of a B52, the machine itself can be located onto this base unit and transported in the case. No need to keep separating the units when moving around.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=135&item=753795680

Starting bid: GBP 100.00 (reserve) (jalex-uk)
Ending price: GBP 205.00 (reserve not met) (gemmary.com)
Auction ends: Jan-14-03 13:08:18 PST

posted March 05, 2004 07:51 PM            

NESTED INSIDE SIX (6) wheels Marked 38, 41, 42, 43, 46, 47 and TWO (2) metal strips ( Tools ??? )

posted April 19, 2004 02:34 PM            

code:

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Apr-28-04 19:31:35 PDT US $2,362.77 texaspyro ( 847) 
Apr-28-04 19:31:24 PDT US $2,337.77 posthuman ( 405) 
Apr-28-04 19:31:33 PDT US $1,856.00 gemmary.com ( 1494) 
Apr-28-04 09:03:34 PDT US $1,751.00 criptofabio ( 156) 
Apr-28-04 12:54:26 PDT US $1,600.00 newbegin-antiques ( 1621) 
Apr-26-04 08:39:02 PDT US $1,002.00 math-tools ( 270) 
Apr-23-04 12:38:19 PDT US $1,000.00 psionic ( 41) 
Apr-23-04 23:19:43 PDT US   $897.00 at90210 ( 2780) 
Apr-22-04 13:48:41 PDT US   $777.00 math-tools ( 270) 
Apr-22-04 01:12:48 PDT US   $610.00 math-tools ( 270) 
Apr-22-04 16:52:33 PDT US   $522.17 posthuman ( 405) 
Apr-21-04 07:56:21 PDT US   $500.00 posthuman ( 405) 

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posted April 09, 2005 08:46 PM            

The system has been checked and is fully functional with letter ring and typewheel in Arabic. I believe this to be Farsi and, if so, could have been destined for Iran at some time.

This model is capable of operating in an ‘incremental mode’ whereby plaintext and ciphertext alphabets separate. The plaintext alphabet prints its character and then remains still, the ciphertext alphabet cycles, prints one cypher character and then reconnects to the plaintext alphabet, in a new position, before the next character is entered.

Sounds complicated? Well, it basically means that the final cyphertext is harder to break as each cyphertext character depends upon all previous text entered. Its easier to see and understand than it is to explain it!

The paper tape is read from right to left - an image of the output is included below.

posted May 16, 2005 09:32 PM            

Like the M-209, this C-52 has six rotors. While the M-209 came with a fixed complement of rotors, the C-52 can be fitted with many different combinations of rotors.

This particular PRNG has a repeat period of 1.622.493.600 cycles (38 * 25 * 46 * 42 * 26 * 34). To encrypt, the output of this mechanical PRNG is added to the letter to be encrypted - to decrypt, the corresponding subtraction is done.

The ID tag is intact and reads:
Type CX-52
Series D
No. 24585
CRYPTO AG
ZUG, SWITZERLAND

There are no broken parts on this CX-52, no dings or dents anywhere. The paint is factory original and in very good shape - it is dark gloss gray with sort of a pebbled hammertone texture. No corrosion or rust.

You can see one original roll in the pictures they rolls is quite rare.

It is a great-looking piece of Cold War equipment. As well as being a fascinating example of mechanical design, this machine is quite rare lately. Many of these Hagelin machines, were built and used in the days before computer cryptography took over, but as a rule the machines were destroyed rather than sold as surplus. Hagelin machines found use in many commercial concerns & governmental entities - suspicious folks who jealously guarded their secrets and who could, toward that end, afford to destroy the machines rather than let them fall into the hands of an enemy or an unfriendly rival or even a curious public. You just do not see many of these available lately - they are already tucked away in private collections.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=135&item=6532112366

Starting bid: $2,495.00 (nop26820) (Lisbon, Portugal)
Ending price: $2,495.00 (usferg)
Ends May-22-05 16:57:46 PDT

posted June 02, 2005 09:43 PM            

This example is in exellent condition and is in working order as far as I can tell. It has it's original leather carry handle and is complete with the original accessories which are stored in the lid. 1 x Metal 'INK' tube, 1 x metal 'OIL' tube (empty), 1 x pair of tweezers, 2 x reels of paper 'tape'.

Also included are 4 keys, (2 open the top lid, and 2 open the inner lid.) 1 x instruction booklet on the use of the machine (in mint condition) There are also many spare parts - all unused and most are still sealed in there original packaging.(see pictures)I also have the box that the cryptograph was originally packed in.

The hinge on the outer lid has been repaired at some point, But overall it is in remarkable condition considering it's age.

posted August 31, 2006 10:42 PM            

There are no broken parts on this CX-52, no dents anywhere. The paint is factory original and in very good shape - it is dark gloss gray with a pebbled hammertone texture. No corrosion or rust.

You can see an original roll and key in the pictures which is quite rare.

The ID tag is intact and reads:
Type CX-52
Series D
No. 33162
CRYPTO AG
ZUG SWITZERLAND
http://cgi.ebay.com/Hagelin-Cryptos-CX52-cipher-device_W 0QQitemZ190026696563QQihZ009QQcategoryZ586QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Starting bid: GBP 100.00 (antoinb27)
Ending price:
End time: Sep-07-06 14:30:48 PDT

Item re-listed due to the "disappearance" of the winning bidder
http://cgi.ebay.com/Hagelin-Cryptos-CX52-cipher-device_W0QQitemZ190032097316QQihZ009QQcategoryZ586QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Starting bid: GBP 100.00
Ending price:
End time: Sep-26-06 13:00:00 PDT