llD01WllDI 10R1 

REF ID:A39534 

WAR DEPARTMENT 

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF SIGNAL OFFICER 

WASHINGTON 

Cblet Sif,ml Otticv 

(TBI1U1 Channels) 

• 

Apr1115, 193? 

s 

1. At.tach9d hereto ie a lriet desari,lltian, 11ccom,>an1ed lW' two 

aket. •h(..s, of a propoeed cipher •chine ila'ftllted bf me ill 1936. The 

iaftlltion as embodied ill the enclonre ••• conceived in three succeasiYe 

ll041t1.C11Uons or staie• which were proaeaaed through the Signal Corps 

Pate' Board. 

2. Tile tlr•t. stage was described 1n a aemorandua dated ltarah 24, 

1936. In lt• lleeting 11o. ~. on .li)ril 17, 1936, the Board nca..encted 

•that the iawDtion be not aonaldered iaport-int in the Jlational n.tenae, 

dd that a nan-excluai'H license to the Ooftrment, in writing, be required.• Thi• ncoaaendat1on •• approftd "b7 the Chief S1pal Otticer. 

,3. The llMODd and third sia.es, althauih 0011cei•ed at •perate 

datea, were dallOl'ibed ill g, sinlle •8110l'ti.Ddum dated A?ril 29, 1936. In 

1t8 Meeting 5o. 3, OD 111Q' ~6, 19.'.36, the Patent Board considered th• 

aecond nnd third •t.a•• Jo.lntl.7 aad reoomeaded •that. th• 1ll'ftllt.lon be 

not conoidered iapartaat in the la.tionn.l Detenee mnd that a noa-exclual:n 

license to the Oo.,......t, in wrlt.ing, be required.• 'l'his recomeadeUon 

was e.p~rond b,y th• Chlet SigDr\l orr1aer. 

4. On the basis of t.he two nct1ona of the p,,,tent brd, ae noted 1n 

Pars. ~ And 3 above, there would appear to be no obJeotion to a pos~iba.e 

sale of comerc1fll right• to the 1Dftnt.ion. Rowner, 1 t is dee:wed adYisa ble 

to call attention to the .tollowillf' facts. 

5. Ona of the eleaent• in the illftlltion •• -.bd.tted to the Patent 

Board in the ...orandum ot April £9, 1936, included a •ecbftnico-el&ctrical 

aeana or prOTld.1111 tor a :relat1wq long c1,?her Jc.,, this •RDS ooiapriaiag 

a .. t or ca• •heels tor opel'at1ng ~ set ot electrical oontncta lnatea4 ot 

a tape. Thi• ..... and •tbod ot ?l'OTidlai e. tq •ft• inaorpora\ed in 

uother invention wtaiah •• cleaor1'.bed ln a maorandua dated larch 23, 1936, 

and de:•lt with • pro.-Md aodit1cat.1oa in Con•erter TJ'pe lf-134-TI. Thie 

waa prooeased tbroup Uae Pateat Board also at ita lleeti111 Ro. 2, oa .A.pr11 

17, 19)6. The Board roanct tba~ ••areas, the original ilrnntion (1 ••• , the one apμlicabl• to Colmlrt.er !)pe ll-1)4-T2) waa not con11dved ot auoll 

importance ft.8 to be plaoed in the •t.sm7 wbich ?Z"oride• tor it• 'beiaa 

kept MCNt, the iaprowments descri.bed 1n the de9CD'1pt1on acoaapafV'1., 

bl• ••orandua or llarob t.3, 1936, t.o lewrob and Dnelopent DJ.Yiaioa, 

pproved for Release by NSA on 09-30-2013 pursuant to E.O. 
REF ID:A39534 

• 

t.brou5h Wa:r Pl.au aJlt! TrainiDg D1'Y1•1on, "I'• cona1dere'1 a1, Import•nt 111 

th• lr..Uoml D•tenn.• Th• loarJ therefor• r•c~Dded •uv1t, \111.d•l" the 

0ro•ia1on1 of ru-. 6 &Al 850-SQ, Dec. 31, 193.4, a ooaplet.e a•1igmunt 

be nquHted, iuad ll41t ta. 1n'Nllt1on 'H kwiJ\. ~aerat.."' Thia rea,,_adatJ.oll 

••• &pprowd b7 th• Chief B.lpal Ottioer and •uoh ••eigment we1 μroapt.l.J 

ude b7 u. It. Mould be added th t •• a reftult or a. detailed -1i•cuea1on, 

· wi'1l the uIC1 Reetaarob ~nd DeYeloum.ai D1Yi"1on (Lieut. Colontrl Colton), 

of tb• aation of t.h• Pot.eat Board 1n t.n. c•e•• ot rererenc•, eteps ••r• 

t.e.&ea in t.1• t.o ;>lrtc• th• ba•io inYU.tioa oowriag Oollftrter N-13-L-T2 1nto 

tb.• evcr•t. CtiWCOf'J fll40, eo t.h;-t both tb• baeia pRUllt. on thifl conyerter 

tone.! th• p.i.tent. ~ 9plic.- t1on co-.erio.g a ;.Jl"OpoHd aoci.1.tic:,tloA thcrtiot ;iN now 

111 a ••"-1·t:t. at..t.ua. 

6. Iu view oi' t.ild 1·aot tu«t th• propo1ed Okll-lfi'leel •od1.f'icrtioll o-t Cvr~.-l'i.•r .iR-1>4-T.2 ls 1n r.bill ellfOret. oat•go:ey, ~1Ad tbat a 111111 r •ohanin 

cooailt'lt•R a pctil"L ot ~not,her inwntion not in th• 1ecr•t ~atci'goey ..-·Ad 

toraiaa t.11• eubj•at ot tbia iHaoru.Qdm, I ~•eit:.te to ,>roceed Kit.h , ~ 

•10U.:.tl.ona th-.~t might le.$d t.:1 t.ha AAl• or coawrc1 .. 1 ,ri.Jbt.& to tho l,tt•r 

iDY•AtJ..;;,., -w:it!l thia ~t;w.~t.J.oa 1• cl.Jiti•d ~,~ .. ll po1dbilit1 of .rut.we 

ai•uad•ra L.o.d1~ .I.a abYi<.. te.i. 

7. In .-, o;>ild.oa, there J.e ®Ulin& uoYel in th• us• or a C•.a-whNl 

111..Uq !or prothaoing ,. ot~•r !teJ aad 1i. 1e doubttul whether tbie 1tt ia 

iteelf a ,>i11t.entabl• idea. It. ie eabod1ed i~ 1eYeral cipher m1,chim1 in-

"fttD.t.ed ~·nu uonat.ruated b;, comeroiaJ. i1nla. J.'or •Xl·•Pl•, tbo1• ot tbe 

l.a.t•rJ1Z::UoD1Ll 'iei•plaone i.~ .. borat.ori••• tb• I11tersaaUonal Busi.zaoH llachim1 

Cori:ior •. Uoa, ff•lt•:ra, De•, ,i:Jld ottlera. Th• pol!!bigtUop ot' ouch a oa•-wb••l 

aaa.ablJ "1th th• 1·ukt141.ii cuavt.atore ot Cc11Tert•r .iri-l~4-T2 11 perhape 

AOY .. lt &Dd pi.\tellt ~" .;i.l:·•··d1 b1:r•11 ... ?μlied tor .u 1t1~tdd in P~.r. 5 above. 

lir1t action ot t.h• ?at9nt Of !lo• hMs baen r•c•iv1d recentl7 4D~ • COPJ 

thereof 11 att~ch9d., It •111 b• •••n thr.t onlJ limited ol:Aima will be 

fillowecl, it at '111• 

s. It 1• •1 b•llel th.t. th• O\ltright a.al• of oo111118rc1.r.l right• to 

tb• acooa~~DJ1Di 1UY8At1on would iu ao ••1 J•o?trd1ae the sacrec7 or seaurit)' ot Qonerter M-l3J.-T2 either la ita present form or in a later form, 

should thia aachine be aodltied 1n tutur• b)· th• enbaUtutloa ot t.b• ouwheel a.ae•blJ !or the 'Irey t,.._,. tranaaitte1·. 

9. On th• baaia of tb• !"or•;.olD.f. !"it.Otlt in t.be case, .L11t~l"lltl.tion. 111 

re(£UtS4t«l £1rst. ... , t.o nether the Ch1e1' Sipal Ottioer has ··127 ob,fectiont 

to 8)' •nter1nf: in.to nego U.a tiou whic:h a: y lu.d to tlla c-utrif.1\ t '"'le ot 

coueroi:·l rijh.ts to th• iDwntion def.loribed in tlle e.ccc·m~) .. DJ!Dg ?apers. 

l.). B.et!'erenae is •d• to '1r•Yloua ;»~-para in tbia 03.ee; Lot.t•r tfoted 

J'UD& l61 l}.36, friJfl 010, iteueroh aad lJeV*lOplNl'lt t1T1Di~D, 0051ii0, t.o 

Director, SiiJMtl Corps L.:.boratorie~, Fort :.OIUIOut.b, Subjects InTeatian 

(?.Ll• .:0::16--.:; :t7J), f: • .o.!. t::o.r•• 1DiorHiunt11 tber6to. 

111Una F. J'riedaaa 
REF ID:A39534 

Ir.lei DeevipUOD ot • C17ptafre~h10 S,at. .. allll aaob1De •PloJlai a 

ll.Jlsl•, lperlodloalq·Di•pl.eMll Cipher Comautat.oaa. 

1. Thia ianat.lon 4•1• with a Ol7PtoaraPlai• •ohiu in •hioh t.h• 

Cl'J'.,.tOfl"&pbia pr1aoipl• 11 bali.U, •• tollewaa 

= 

Pwer 1• de11Yend t.o tile U,board at th• ueipber1111 po11Uoa a't • 1peo1t1e 1net&at .t.n e per1o4 ot 26 ?0••1bl• 1utanta, th• oipber reeultaa\ 

Of & g1 .... i>laia-t.ext, letter de~ t.henfore \li-lOU the specltlo f.aat.aat 

th• keJ'board la ade •auw•, a1aoe tor •• ot t.h~ 26 d1tr_._t 1D•tnnt.11 

a dittenmt alxed oL...,. al.,Uba~ ie ill'•aated tor eno19h.,...t. The 

ordar ot ..-.MDtaUon ot 11plutr alphabet• la replar bat ~ uaot laataat 

ot tbe Hl..Uon ot a lf.*d.l1o o1pher alplaallet 1• ftl'J' lrrecular •ad 4e-

;>eada upon a kt111Dc taot.or. 

2. The Mcbine OOD.siats ball.cali, ot a aiacl•, oon~ti.ntq rotat.1111', 

26 1..-t, 26 cbaraeter cipher OOll!ltl'il.itor", l"beled 1 in Figure 11, oontroUe4 llr a keflltc 91atm laaolwU.nc a "' of rot.table, ditterent1111 c•• 

wheel.a or u w.sui:Wt.l•t eleotrie&l OA9 a1Taag .. nt.. Tb.1.a control qatea 

oQllPl'l .. S or a 11Lllt1?1• ot 5 oaa •h•l• •bicb ojMlnte cont.net. lne.rs, -.. at a. !be 1nwr-aot1oa ot the ' oontaot. lnva l'•a<1 1n •ttiac \1j) at 

the 5 relqa, '' .4, S, 6, ?, a ,.._tat1oa 1A tile Daudot oodtt. Correa,?Olllllng 

to till• permtnt1on there 1• Mt. U..? a ,permtat1on ot ' tJ--.ulater bars, 

l&Mle4 8, 9, lo. 11, 12. Tb.eae ere 91.ott.M -ber• nn<l when a •PMltio 

pwmt.o.Uon ie Ht .,.,, OM of 32 •tmlt mra tall• 111to pl.ace and clo••• a 

ooa'8°'9 3-wrnl ot th•" contaote are 8bon 1n t.be. •ketch at. 13. ft•• 

cdroalta J.Md to " •1toh11oard 14, OD •• aide ot •lt.loh tun .... )I poll- tloaa dd OD th• ot.her aide ot wbich ther• an oaq ~ pos1Uoaa. ltaf'eJTillg 

to th• oaa whHl• t.h••• an ot cllf"fM'ent cliaMMI' and ot dltteNnt .. _.. ot ia'Wnl.•1 preterabq all prlae to ou aaotber. Tlaq an 1D41•1dualq 

rotateble 1n ltep-•1•• •mer, 1.lllder oontl'ol ot tho k.qtoa.rd. The pot.•Ual 

oipller -, •blob J"ttault• fl-oa suoh nn •ITaJtl--\ 1• in le111tb th• produe\ 

ot t.he 1..U. •ldual. 1nt•n'&l .. ber1 01· tbs aenral cam. •hecl11. ror uaaple, 

if tb ... U• ' OU! wbeela \be tlr•t of 100 lDW'ft-181 the aeooad or 99, the 

thlrd or 'Tl, th• fourth ot 91 and tit• flfth ot 19 int.enal•, th• t.otel 

lencth ot t.lae ol.jlhe.r kq would be 71'm'""?t!°°• th.f..1 aereq ue.u \hat th• oip)&u- keJ •oul• coulat of u UlllDtal lbl.• sciuenee ()f c1pher1ne ke7 

·ch&.het.era ot con.•~nc lqgtb. 

). !be )t po11dbl.e nnl t.e.nt. Budot penata Una •h1ob are led t.o 

•1\cbbolll'd 14 are tor tM P'll'po••• ot thl• i&meUoa ndaoN to 26 b,r 

oon.olldat.i.111 6 of th• )1' olnuit!!I lnto Uac otMI" 16. ao Uset there will 

be oaq 26 dift8Nllt NM&J.tut etteotl foP eq'pt,ocrapldo ktr1a& pul'PQ8•1e 

In tlais i.D'ftmtloa \bi.a la •••mll6>11ahed qu1te .s.,13 ... t.ld.DC •h•t .re 

wmalll' kacMrn •• t.be 6 ext.ra fvaoU.OD8 and ....._ th• 111 w1Ul 6 ot tb• 

other Z6 lntv-npn..U., Bamo\ ,_..tau.a. lbla 6 •111 l» eti.Mte&l 

to be 8dOllbl.e-repre•ntat&w• -.n M ~and ftrl.ed at •111 at 

t.h• •ltobboard u. 
REF ID:A39534 

L. In t.hl• 1n'ftDU. the 26 specitlo ett•ot.e 'thu1 1'811dez'ed Po••lbl• lt' 

oua aot.1oa Mreq de~ which one ot S;6 ,....ent1 •ill be mnde •alln• (that 

1•1 will 'be OODDMW to a power llOUl'O•) oa • Mt ot ~6 a.,..t.a in th• d.111-

\rllllator bnd 1~1 O'ftr 11hioh llru1h 16 neepa 1A qnchroni•~ •i\b oamotator 

wheel 11. All ahon in the ft.gun, "thlo aot.1.on Mnq •ans that flt. a 11•a 

111•\ttnt N1q 17 le en•r&1Hd, the 1n11tant ot ftftrglaation beJ.aa controll• 

"1 th••• UTaac ... nt nDd. Ifill be dUfe.rent for esoh k91 opention "\ the 

ke7bM.rcle 

'• lben a •.-c1t1o 89£Mllt ot the distributor 15 S.s •de •"uw• 1'T 

'beL1t1 cOllMo\ed to ~\ "J;Ofllflr' IMll'Ott, and when th• 'bnlah 16 r•oh•• t.hia 11w 

..,....t, the kqboilrd or thei 017~top,raph l• ... •all•e• at tbat initt.ant 

1:r' the -pleUon ot the ciroult troia power llOUl"Oe 18 at cont.,ot 19. It a 

U, 1• •prened durJ.-. that. 0701•, th• let.ter oorrespoadlq to that k., 

wlU M eDOij.lbend 1n the 1peo1t1c olplaer alphabet detenlned tv the •?•1f1o 

anplar po1ltion ot the olpber 0091Utat.Gr l at the 1natant that. ~· bruah 16 

naoaa.a t.be UYe a.,...t on distributor 1,. In otber word•, the k91board 1e 

•de •all••• at 1 o£ 26&tterent 1aatanta 1D tbe 0701• ptt ':4ed through "1 the 

oa.mtator trh .. lJ nob ot th•• inatdtl CGl'ftapoada to • different wed 

alphabet or which there 1• a. total ot 26. It 1• to be ueder.t.ood tbat the 

oaa •tlMl ••-bl.J 1a Rt. at. an 1D1t1Al k117bs vo•1Uon b,r ~-•n't 

ud tlaat the 0811• adftnoe one at.ep or 1nttll"ftl per depression ot th• kqboaJ"CI 

1tnd ao more. 

6. Tlt• oipber co..u.'8tor llQ' be •• a reoiprooal clplaer comu.t.at.ora or b,J 

nit.able .. ltebJ.ne UTa.,...,.te a nonreolprOOP\l eno1pber1n,r-decl;>b•r1ne re1.Atloaehlp ...,. be proYlded ror. 1t de•ll'ed. 

?. The k97boarcl to 11 eoaneoted to th& letthand stator 21, "'n.d the clrauite pn11 troa 21 throqh oipher ooaut.ator 1 to the rirhthand stat.or 22 

•ad thenoe to t.he 'blnk ~ lmU.oatin~ deY!.oe• t.J, bflok to power source 18. 

s. Ileana and all'ou1 t,1 mat be iJl'OYlded. to prnut the Gl7i>1io,;ra;>h tl'all 

reoordl., or 1ad1oat1aa a nMaltltnt, aon t.IMn once tor the e•i.• .. t up ot 

a,s, 10 that there _, be oae and oa11' OM oipher equ1Ytt.lent t>er k.,.iac 

operatlaa. 

9. Instead of a Nt ot 6 tranalater lloa and .)2 at11Bt. l:lftra an arr•Jalfila•nt. 

of -1t1plt: ooataat nlq1 •• lhown 1D l1pre 2 at t4 '1147 be ?l"Odded lt 4eend. 

llOh pnoUeabl• than V.nalat.er 'bt.ra. 

10. :ror cleolpbU'Md, ha'dng • reolprooal olph•r1ft4,; oomautAtor tb• kq ••ttJ.ac ot the oaa 'ltMel.1 Min& the .... a• the 1Ditbl settine: at. \he ene1,?hu-1q 

-4 tM M=-iuttaoe ot Urlltl ola81'-.totw• •ftlAI be U.Uoal at t.be deoiplMn'lar _. 

ud tit• no1proo1tir bete.a platn-tut and el.pller oha:reotw• 1• •tel41eed 

tlal"Oalli UI• cd.pb.er oa 1 ltator and the deal~ is •tf'•oted 111 a st.pl• ... ,tlMtt la, 1t at. eao1phel'lleDt at a 1lftD iastAnt A •G.U<:.1• I U... 111 

deolpbarmm\ at tbat -..i.o,ous 1Datnn! (with respeot to the oipher 11.,) I 

waald be d•clpheftd a• .&.