Mike, Several being offered for sale, but Information here. http://www.bonhams.com/press_release/11706/ There were to my limited knowledge many modifications made over the years including extra Rotors and here is an info site. http://users.telenet.be/d.rijmenants/en/enigmatech.htm You may have to do some digging to find out just how many variations that were actually produced. One or two experts on the Enigma, will, I am sure, get back to you. Regards Tom
Many thanks for that Tom, I will study later. Not a subject I know a great deal about yet? I couldn't resist the Title Mike
mikky The original has 12 variations..and it still annoys me to hear an audience applaud after the 9th or 10th Cheers
Commercial (D), Railway Enigma, KD machine, Tirpitz, G(Abwehr), 3 wheel Wehrmacht, M3 (Naval), M4 (Naval), Swiss K, Polish copy, and many more pre-war.... Which one have you got?
Just joshin' Geoff, thanks for the info. I do not have one I'm afraid. I know a man who has though. Not sure what kind of nick it's in? Mike
The one mentioned for auction in the link that I provided is expected to bring between 40,000 and 60,000 Pounds. http://www.bonhams.com/press_release/11706/ Extremely rare WWII German Enigma enciphering machine on sale with Bonhams An Enigma Code Machine in original oak case,No. 13598/jla/44 This 1941 oak Enigma machine was an instrument used to pass coded German messages during the Second World War This German enigma enciphering machine will go under the hammer for the first time on the 14th November in Knightsbridge (estimated £40,000 - 60,000). Built by Heimsoeth and Rinke in 1941, this is the 3 rotor version, used by Germany between 1938 and 1944. Patented by H. A. Koch, at the end of WWI, there was a recognised need for new technology with an imminent Second World War approaching. Whilst this particular device was intended for commercial purposes, by 1939 the majority of enigma machines had been appropriated for German military use. The secret operations at Bletchley Park were responsible for decoding the information communicated by this machine to gain a winning advantage over the Germans. The construction of the machine Colossus at Bletchley Park, thanks to the efforts of British Intelligence, meant the messages scrambled by the enigma machine could eventually be decoded in under twenty-four hours, leading the allies to an early victory. Laurence Fisher, Specialist Head of Mechanical Music, Technical Apparatus & Scientific Instruments commented: "Enigma machines come up very rarely at auction. This particular example is in working order, completely untouched and un-restored. "Many machines were picked up by the allies as souvenirs during the final stages of the second World War and as such, in later years, tended to be 'mixed and matched', where rotors, outer cases and head blocks were replaced with another machines' parts. This one has all elements bearing the same serial number, making this totally complete and original throughout." Other notable pieces in the auction include a complete set of enigma rotors (estimated £6,000 - 8,000) Regards Tom
The highest price paid so far is USD244,000 (private sale). I think this was a M4. However there are only a few G machines known to exist. These are beautifully engineered and make the originals look like something out of a christmas cracker. But, as far as I know a Railway machine (Used on the Reichsbahn) has not yet turned up. Either would make you very happy.
Bollocks, nothing at all to do with Colossus, but if you had the money, would you care? And there was more to allied victory than breaking codes.