Chiffriermaschine BCX-62b/RT: CX-52/RT, aufgerüstet mit der "elektrischen Klaviatur" B-62b - photo 1

Chiffriermaschine BCX-62b/RT: CX-52/RT, aufgerüstet mit der "elektrischen Klaviatur" B-62b

Lot 5246
28.10.2022 10:00UTC +01:00
Classic
Sold
€ 4 400
AuctioneerHermann Historica
Event locationGermany, Grasbrunn / München
Buyer Premium25 %
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ID 835960
Lot 5246 | Chiffriermaschine BCX-62b/RT: CX-52/RT, aufgerüstet mit der "elektrischen Klaviatur" B-62b
Estimate value
€ 4 000
Mechanische Rotor-Chiffriermaschine, ab 1952 von der Crypto AG in Zug, Schweiz hergestellt. Es gab zunächst die Type CX-52 mit sechs Stiftwalzen und später die CR/RT mit sechs Stiftwalzen und Lochstreifenleser. Das Gerät arbeitet mit einem Zufalls-Lochstreifen (RT = Random Tape), dessen Zeichen mit den am Zeigerrad eingegebenen Klartextzeichen gemischt werden. Der Empfänger benötigt den gleichen Zufallslochstreifen zur Entschlüsselung. Die Zufallslochstreifen wurden von Kurieren überbracht, meist vierteljährlich. Diese Maschinen wurden zur Zeit des Kalten Krieges in ca. 60 Ländern von Militär und Regierungsstellen verwendet, darunter alle deutschen Botschaften. Im Gegensatz zu den manipulierten Chiffriermaschinen der Crypto AG (CIA und BND hatten über Siemens als Strohmann den Hersteller in den 1970er Jahren aufgekauft und konnten nahezu alle verschlüsselten Nachrichten entschlüsseln - Rubikon-Affaire), waren Maschinen dieses Typs unknackbar. Das Gerät ist voll funktionsfähig, komplett mit einem originalen Zufallslochstreifen, einem Testlochstreifen zur Funktionsprüfung und Kopien der Bedienungsunterlagen. Seriennummer 23538. Um insbesondere in den Kommandozentralen und Außenstellen mit hohem Kommunikationsbedarf den Durchsatz zu erhöhen und die Bedienung zu vereinfachen, wurde die "elektrische Klaviatur" B-52 entwickelt. Während des Kalten Krieges waren alle 350 Botschaften Deutschlands mit CX-52/RT ausgestattet, von denen die meisten später mit einer Klaviatur B-62 oder B-621 (mit Stecker zum Anschluss eines Lochstreifenlese- und -stanzgerätes PEB-61) ausgestattet wurden. Dabei wurde die Chiffriermaschine elektrisch und mechanisch fest mit der Tastatureinheit verbunden. Deren Motor ersparte dem Bediener die manuelle Einstellung jedes Buchstabens am Wählrad und die folgende Betätigung der Handkurbel. Die hier angebotene Version B-62b mit der Seriennummer 2400418 ist eine gegenüber der ursprünglichen B-52 deutlich verbesserte Version. Die Kombination CX-52 mit B-62b wurde als BCX-62-b bezeichnet.
Maße der BCX-62 31 x 20,5 x 16 cm. Gewicht ca. 11 kg.
Mechanical rotor machine, manufactured from 1952 onwards by Crypto AG in Zug, Switzerland. The first model was the CX-52 with six pinwheels, followed by the CR/RT with a tape reader. The machine works with a random tape (RT) whose ciphertext letters are mixed with the plaintext letters entered at the pointer wheel. For decoding, the recipient needs the same random tape. The random tapes were delivered by couriers, usually every three months. During the time of the Cold War these machines were used in approx. 60 countries by the army and government agencies, among them all German embassies. In contrast to the manipulated cipher machines made by Crypto AG (CIA and the German Federal Intelligence Service, BND, had acquired the manufacturer in the 1970s via Siemens as a straw man and were able to decipher almost all encoded messages – known as the Rubicon affair), machines of this type were unbreakable. This device is fully functional, complete with an original random tape, a test tape for a functional check and copies of the operation manual. Serial number 23538. To increase throughput and ease of use, especially in command centres and base stations with a high communication load, the B-52 keyboard was developed. The Cold War saw all 350 German embassies equipped with these machines, of which most were later upgraded with either a B-62 or a B-621 (featuring an extra connector for a tape reader and puncher). The keyboard unit, factory name "electric drive B-62b", had a bay to hold the CX-52, to which it was electrically and physically connected. The combination of motor-drive and keyboard saved the operator the time-consuming task of setting each letter via the letter selection disc and then crank the advance lever. The B-62b unit with serial number 2400418 offered here is an improved version of the B-52. The combination of the CX-52 with this keyboard unit was known as the BCX-62-b.
Dimensions of a BCX-62 31 x 20.5 x 16 cm. Weight 11 kg.
Auction house category:Encryption devices
Address of auction Hermann Historica
Bretonischer Ring 3
85630 Grasbrunn / München
Germany
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22.10.2022 – 28.10.2022
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