New or Improved Methods and Apparatus for Facilitating the Formation and Deciphering of Secret Communications.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 21st Oct., 1890-Accepted, 29th Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Methods and Apparatus for Facilitating the
Formation and Deciphering of Secret Communications.
We, MARSHALL ARTHUR WIER of 3 Palace Grove, Upper Norwood, in the County
of Surrey, Engineer, and the EUREKA MECHANICAL WRITER COMPANY LIMITED
of 9 Strand, London, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to new or improved methods and apparatus which are
applicable for use in connection with the improved methods, means and apparatus for
secret and other writing which form the subject of Letters Patent granted to
Marshall Arthur Wier, hearing date 19 August 1887, No. 11,341, and 18th July 1888
No. 10,440 respectively, and has for its principal object to facilitate the employment
of the aforesaid inventions in the formation of cryptographic or code messages for
transmission by telegraph and the like.
For this purpose we employ what we call a bi-letter code which consists of special
combinations of couplets of letters (in combination or not with what we call dis-
tinguishing letters) to represent the various words or groups of words of the intended
message. For example A A might represent the word "abandon," A B=" abate,"
BA="against" and so on.
By the employment of these combinations it will be
seen that 676 words or groups of words could be represented if the entire alphabet
were employed. But as we employ certain letters, say K V W Z,-exclusively as
distinguishing letters as hereinafter explained-say 22 letters only are available for
use in the construction of couplets-thus giving 484 couplets. As 484 words or
groups of words would be ordinarily insufficient for the purpose of constructing secret
communications we insert a distinguishing letter (K for example) between the two
letters of the couplet; and if each one of four distinguishing letters are so employed,
we are enabled to obtain 2,420 combinations, representing the same number of words
or groups of words. The cryptographic or code message, composed as above described,
will consist of a number of unintelligible "words," thus FJO PL, KSR WE,
R BAZT, for example. The receiver of this cypher will first divide the message
into couplets thus FJ, O P, LS, RW E, R B, AZ T and will be able to translate
them by ascertaining the agreed meaning of each of the 6 couplets from the key table,
or by the apparatus hereinafter described.
For the purpose of facilitating the formation and deciphering of cryptographic or
code messages composed of arbitary figures or letters or combinations thereof repre-
senting intelligible words, it has heretofore been customary to arrange such arbitary
figures or letters, and their corresponding intelligible words, in printed or written
parallel columns arranged book wise, and to prepare or decipher, the cryptogram by
referring to these columns of ciphers and words. This is a troublesome and tedious
operation which it is one of the objects of the present invention to obviate, as also to
facilitate the use of our above described bi-letter code. For this purpose we employ
the means or apparatus hereinafter described, that is to say, we prepare a base board
or tablet with a number of divisions marked on the upper surface thereof formed by
lines drawn at right angles to each other or otherwise. In each of these divisions is
written or printed a couplet cipher or an intelligible word. A moveable board or
tablet, corresponding in size to the base board, is adapted to be placed over the latter,
or to be removed therefrom at pleasure. The upper surface of this moveable board or
tablet is divided into divisions by lines exactly corresponding to those marked on the
base board or tablet, and the divisions on the moveable board have written or printed
in them the cipher corresponding to the intelligible word written or printed on the
corresponding division of the base board; or the intelligible word corresponding to

page_text: the cipher written or printed on the corresponding division of the base board, as the
case may be. Guides are provided on the base board or tablet so that when the
moveable board is placed over the base board, the divisions on the former will stand
exactly over those on the latter, so that any given cipher or word, as the case may be,
on the moveable board, will stand immediately over its corresponding word or cipher,
as the case may be, on the base board below.
At one side, or end, of the base board is pivotted an arm of sufficient length to
sweep over the entire surface of the base board on which the divisions are marked.
On this arm is arranged a sliding pointer which can be adjusted into any position
longitudinally on the said arm.
Assuming now that the ciphers are written or printed on the moveable board and
the corresponding intelligible words on the base board, and that it is desired to prepare
a cryptographic or secret communication, the first word of the intended cryptogram is
found on the base board, and the arm is moved round its pivot until it stands over that
word; the pointer is then slid along the arm till it also comes over the said word. The
moveable board is then put in place over the base board by being slid into position
under the arm and pointer. When the moveable board is in position, the cipher on
it, corresponding to the word on the base board over which the pointer stands, comes
under the said pointer and is written down by the operator. The moveable board is
then withdrawn, the next word of the communication found on the base board, the
arm and pointer adjusted over it, the moveable board replaced, and the second cipher
will be found under the pointer, and so on for each word and cipher of the intended
communication.
The deciphering of a cryptogram is effected by proceeding in a reverse order
Instead of a pivoted arm, a bar may be arranged to slide, parallel to itself,
over the aforesaid boards, the pointer being arranged to slide longitudinally on
such bar.
In some cases, instead of the above described apparatus we employ a transparent
sheet of celluloid, or other suitable material, on which are printed, or otherwise formed
in suitably arranged divisions, the 484 couplets or ciphers hereinbefore referred to.
Five other sheets or boards (marked respectively K. V. W Z for example) have corre-
sponding divisions containing the words or groups of words represented by the
484 couplets, and the 484 couplets in combination with each of the four distinguishing
letters K V W Z respectively. In composing a secret communication each required
word or group of words would first be found on one of the five sheets or boards, and
the transparent sheet being placed over it, the cipher or couplet which appears on the
transparent sheet above the said word or group of words is written down by the
operator, and if the said word or group of words occurs on the K sheet for example,
- he inserts the distinguishing letter K between the two letters of the couplet, which
indicates to the receiver that the word or group of words is to be found on the
K sheet.
We employ distinguishing letters as above explained, for the reason that a com-
bination of cipher letters and numerals are not at present allowed by the telegraph
companies to be used.
It will be understood that the communication consisting of couplets or ciphers as
above described, after being arranged or set up, may be transposed by the aid of the
type writing machines described in the specifications of the beforementioned patents
in such a manner as to render it impossible of interpretation except by the person
having the key.
Dated this 20th day of January 1890.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Methods and Apparatus for Facilitating the
Formation and Deciphering of Secret Communications.
We, MARSHALL ARTHUR WIER, formerly of 3 Palace Grove, Upper Norwood,
in the County of Surrey, at present of 9 Strand, London, Engineer, and the EUREKA
MECHANICAL WRITER COMPANY, of 9 Strand London, do hereby declare the nature
of the said invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement, that is
to say:
This invention relates to new or improved methods and apparatus for forming and
deciphering secret communications, which, besides being applicable to the formation
and deciphering of cryptographic or code messages in general for transmission by
telegraph or otherwise, is specially applicable for use in connection with the improved
methods, means and apparatus for producing and deciphering secret writing which
form the subject of Letters Patent granted to Marshall Arthur Wier bearing date
19th August 1887 No. 11341 and 18th July 1888 No. 10440 respectively.
For this purpose we employ what we call a bi-letter code which consists of special
combinations of couplets of letters (in combination, or not, with what we call dis-
tinguishing letters) to represent the various words, or groups of words, of the intended
message. For example, the letters A A may represent the word "abandon," the
letters A B the word "abate," the letters B A" against" and so on, or each pair or
couplet of letters may represent a complete sentence or group of words instead of a
single word. It will be seen that by the employment of these combinations twenty-six
times twenty-six equal six hundred and seventy-six words, or groups of words, can
be represented if the entire alphabet is employed. But as we employ certain letters
say K, V, W, Z for example, exclusively as distinguishing letters, as will be herein-
after more fully explained, say twenty-two letters only are available for use in the
construction of couplets, thus giving twenty-two times twenty-two, or 484 couplets.
As 484 words, or groups of words, would be ordinarily insufficient for the purpose of
constructing cryptographs or secret communications, we, after having applied words,
or groups of words, to the first 484 couplets, insert a distinguishing letter, K for
example, between the two letters forming each couplet of the next set of 484 couplets
thus A KA, AK B, etcetera and apply words, or groups of words, to these couplets,
and so on for each of the four distinguishing letters K V W Z; and we thus obtain a
total of five times 484 equal to 2420 couplet combinations, representing the same
number of words, or groups of words, formed into a code composed of five series of
481 words, or groups of words, one series having no distinguishing letter, the second
being marked with the letter K, the third with the letter V, the fourth with the
Jetter W and the fifth with the letter Z. The number 2420 couplet combinations is
generally sufficient for all practical purposes. A cryptograph or secret communication
when written out in these couplets simply consists of a series of letters which appear
to have been taken indiscriminately, thus F JO PLKSRWERB AZT but if
the communication is sent by telegraph it will be received divided into groups of letters
according to the particular rules of the telegraph companies that may be in force at
the time in regard to cipher messages. We will assume it to be five letters to a group.
In such a case the message will be received in this form F JO P L-KSR WE
RBAZT. The receiver would divide this message into couplets, taking care to
regard either of the letters K, V, W or Z, wherever it occurs, as forming no part of
the couplet, but only as distinguishing the part of the code to which the couplets,
formed by the letters on either side of such distinguishing letters, belong. He would
accordingly write out the message in the following way viz. F J-O P―L* S—
RW E-R B-AZT and he would then find from that part of his code, not marked
with a distinguishing letter, the meaning of the couplets FJ-OP-R B which have
no distinguishing letters, and from those parts of his code, marked K W and Z, the
meaning of the couplets L S-R E and AT in those respective parts. The

page_text: formation or construction of a cryptograph or secret message is effected by the
reverse process.
For the purpose of facilitating the formation and deciphering of cryptographic or
code messages composed of arbitary figures or letters, or combinations thereof
representing intelligible words, it has heretofore been customary to arrange such
arbitary figures or letters and their corresponding intelligible words, in printed or
written parallel columns arranged bookwise, and to prepare, or decipher, the crypto-
gram by referring to these columns of ciphers and words. This is a troublesome and
tedious operation, which it is one of the objects of the present invention to obviate,
whilst facilitating the use of our above described bi-letter code. For this purpose
we employ the means or apparatus hereinafter described, and illustrated in the
drawings hereto annexed, in which Figure 1 is a partial plan of one form of the
apparatus, Figure 2 a section of same on line 1-2 of Figure 1, and Figure 3 a partial
plan of a slightly different arrangement of such apparatus.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, A is a sheet, base-board, or tablet having a number
of divisions marked on the upper surface thereof, formed by lines drawn at right
angles to each other or otherwise. In each of these divisions is written or printed a
couplet of letters. A moveable sheet, board or tablet B, corresponding in size to the
base board or tablet A, is adapted to be placed over the latter, or to be removed
therefrom at pleasure. The upper surface of the moveable board or tablet B is divided
into divisions by lines exactly corresponding to those marked on the base board or
tablet A; and the divisions on the moveable board or tablet B have written or printed
in them the word corresponding to the couplet of letters written or printed on the
corresponding division of the base board. Guides are provided on the base board or
tablet A, so that when the moveable board B is placed over the base board, the
divisions on the former will stand exactly over those on the latter, so that any given
word on the moveable board will stand immediately over its corresponding couplet on
the base board below. In the example shown in the drawing, the board or tablet B
is arranged to slide over the surface of the board or tablet A, being guided in the
grooves C of the lateral guides D.
At one side or end of the base-board is pivotted, as at E for example, an arm F of
sufficient length to sweep over the entire surface of the base board on which the
divisions are marked. On this arm is arranged a sliding pointer G which can be
adjusted into any position longitudinally on the said arm.
Assuming now that it is desired to prepare a cryptographic or secret communica-
tion, the moveable board or tablet B is slid in until the edge B¹ comes against the
stop A¹, so that the first column of words on the moveable board B, commencing
with the word "abandon" stands over the first column of couplets on the base board A,
commencing with the couplet A A. The first word of the intended cryptogram is
then found on the moveable board B, and the arm F is moved round its pivot E until
it stands over that word; the pointer G is then slid along the arm F till it also
comes over the said word. The moveable board is then drawn out from under the
arm F and pointer G, leaving them unmoved. When the moveable board is drawn
out beyond the pointer G, as in the position shown in the drawings for example, the
pointer G remains standing over the couplet of letters corresponding to the word to
which it was set on the moveable board B. This couplet is written down by the
operator, and forms the first element of the desired cryptograph or secret communica-
tion. The moveable board B is then replaced, the next word of the communication
is found thereon, the arm and pointer adjusted over it, the moveable board again
withdrawn, and the second couplet will be found under the pointer, and so on for each
word of the intended communication.
By having several separate boards similar to B, but each having a different series
of words written in its divisions, and each having a distinguishing letter, such
as K, V, W or Z, as above mentioned, applied to it, the whole of the 2420 words or
combinations of words, as above described, can be utilized by placing the distin-
guishing letter K, V, W or Z, corresponding to the board used, between the letters of
the complet found on the base board A.

page_text: The deciphering of a cryptogram is effected by proceeding in a reverse order.
Instead of a pivotted arm, a bar may be arranged to slide, parallel to itself, over
the aforesaid boards, the pointer being arranged to slide longitudinally on such bar.
Figure 3 of the drawings shows a slightly different arrangement of the apparatus.
A is a transparent sheet of celluloid, or other suitable transparent material, on
which are printed or otherwise formed in suitably arranged divisions, the 484 couplets
for example hereinbefore referred to. This sheet A is capable of being raised up and
turned over like the leaf of a book along the edge A* A*. Five other sheets or boards
(preferably opaque) the first of which need have no distinguishing mark but the other
four of which may be marked respectively K V W Z, as before explained, are arranged
book wise below the transparent sheet A. Each of these sheets or boards is arranged
to turn over like the leaf of a book along their edges B* B* and have written or
printed on them words in positions corresponding to the divisions on the transparent
sheet A. So that when the latter is laid over one of the said opaque sheets, the words
on the latter appear through the divisions on the former, as shown in the drawing,
for example the word abactus," on the opaque sheet next below the transparent
sheet A, is seen in the division containing the couplet A A on the transparent
sheet A.
In composing a cryptograph or secret communication, each required word is first
found on one of the five sheets or boards, the sheets that happen to be above it being
turned over out of the way on their edges B* B*; the transparent sheet A is placed
over the sheet where the said word occurs, and the couplet of letters, which appears
on the transparent sheet above the said word, is written down by the operator ; and if
the said word occurs on the sheet marked K for example, he inserts the distinguishing
letter K between the two letters of the couplet, which indicates to the receiver that
the corresponding word is to be found on the K sheet, under the particular couplet
on the transparent sheet A.
The words shown on the moveable board, in Figure 1, are intelligible words, and
the secret communication may be translated by its aid directly; but it is obvious that
instead of intelligible words, code words may be employed which would require the
use of a code book to effect their translation to or from the couplet ciphers. Similarly
the words shown in Figure 3 are code words, but they may be intelligible words if
preferred.
We employ distinguishing letters, as above explained, instead of distinguishing
numbers, for the reason that combinations of cipher letters and numerals are not at
present allowed by the telegraph companies to be used. But if and when numbers
are allowed to be used in combination with cipher letters, numerals may be used
instead of letters to distinguish the sheets or tables of words with the result that the
whole 26 letters of the alphabet may be used to form couplets, giving 26 times 26
equal 676 couplets instead of 484 when 4 of the letters are reserved as distinguishing
letters; and as any number of numerals might be used, the number of words or
ciphers that could be employed is practically unlimited.
It will be understood that the communication consisting of couplets as above
described, after being arranged or set up, may be transposed by the aid of the crypto-
graphic type writing system, described in the specifications of the beforementioned
patents, in such a manner as to render it impossible of interpretation except by a
person having the key.
It is obvious that in the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2 the couplets might
be written or printed on the moveable board B, and the words on the base board A,
but in that case several base boards would be required to one moveable board, which
would not be so convenient an arrangement as that shown. It is also obvious that in the
apparatus shown in Figure 3, the words may be written or printed on several trans-
parent sheets, and the couplets on an opaque sheet which can be placed under any one
of the transparent sheets.
It will be understood that Figures 1 and 2 show only one corner of each apparatus,
the remainder being obviously of similar arrangement, and that in Figure 3 each of
the sheets are shown broken away to expose a part of the sheet next below it.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare, that what we
claim is :-
First. The method of forming and deciphering secret communications by means of
couplets of letters, each of which said couplets represents a word, or combination of
words, subantially as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in the drawings.
Second. The method of forming and deciphering secret communications by means
of couplets of letters in combination with distinguishing letters or numerals, each of
which said combined couplet and distinguishing letter or numeral represents a word,
or combination of words, to be found on a sheet or table corresponding to such
distinguishing letter or numeral, substantially as hereinbefore described, and illustrated
in the drawings.
Third. The apparatus for facilitating the formation and deciphering of crypto-
graphic or code messages, consisting of a base board or tablet A, a moveable board or
tablet B adjustable in position over the base board A, both boards or tablets A and B
having corresponding divisions marked thereon containing couplets of letters or words,
and the base-board or tablet A having connected therewith an adjustable pointer G
substantially as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the
drawings.
Fourth. The apparatus for facilitating the formation and deciphering of crypto-
graphic or code messages consisting of a sheet or sheets of transparent material A and
of a sheet or sheets of (preferably) opaque material, such transparent and opaque
sheets having corresponding divisions marked thereon containing couplets of letters
or words substantially as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in Figure 3 of the
drawings.
'
200
1000
day
of October
1000
M. A. WIER.
EUREKA MECHANICAL WRITER CO., LIMITED.
W. H. Beck,
115, Cannon Street, London, E.C., Agent.