Patent GB-345078-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in ciphering machines
IPC: G09C1/10
Filed: 1930-03-06
Abstract: 345,078. Ciphering-machines. FAIRWEATHER, H. G. C., 65, Chancery Lane, London.-(Aktiebolaget Ingeni÷rsfirman Teknik ; 29, Lõstmakare-gatan, Stockholm.) March 6, 1930, No. 7420. [Class 146 (ii).] In a ciphering-machine having setting-means representing two or more series of signs, the same series of signs are represented by the reading means, each reading sign having an individual marking or reading means, and there is provided a switch device which during ciphering renders effective one series of reading signs, and during deciphering effects changes from one series of signs to another. The machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2 translates text containing letters and numerals into a letter cipher, and the cipher is re-translated without the operator having to decide whether the letters represent letters or numerals. The machine comprises setting-keys 10, reading elements 16 such as lamps, and a translating-member 14 having points 26, 27 connected by leads 28. The lamps may be replaced by typing-mechanism comprising type-levers bearing letter and numeral types, and platen-shift mechanism controlled by the switch 20 described below. The keys at the left of the line A .. A are arranged in two alternate series I, II representing letters, and numerals or other signs respectively. At the right of the line A .. A are provided shift-keys ShI, ShII, and keys and lamps Q, V. The keys are connected in pairs to points 13 and each pair of lamps on the left of the line A .. A is associated with a switch 17 connected to points 15, the switches being operated by a rod 25 provided with a core 24 which is moved in opposite directions by means of coils 21, 22. The rod operates also switches 18, 19, the contacts of the switch 19 being connected to the lamp V and coil 21, and the contacts of the switch 18 being connected to a double-pole switch 20, of which the outer contacts and middle contacts are connected to the lamp Q and coil 22 respectively. For ciphering, the connections are disposed as shown in Fig. 1, the points 13, 15 being connected to the points 26, 27, the switches 17 being connected to the series I of lamps, and the switch 20 being in position a. The keys corresponding to the letters and numerals of the text are depressed, and the shift-keys ShI, SAII are depressed before and after depression of the numeral keys. The cipher consists entirely of letters read from the series I of lamps, the letters representing numerals being preceded and followed by letters interpolated by the shift-keys. For deciphering, the connections are disposed as shown in Fig. 2, the points 13, 15 being connected to the points 27, 26, and the switch 20 being thrown over to position b. The keys corresponding to the letters of the cipher are depressed and the deciphered text is read from both series of lamps, depression of the keys representing the interpolated letters causing the coils 22, 21 to throw over and return the switches 17, 18, 19 so that the intervening letters are deciphered as numerals by the series II of lamps. Each key and lamp may represent two or more signs, the lamps being associated with sliding indicators controlled by the switch 20.