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To enhance the cryptographic strength of the machine, the Fialka has
a punched card reader at the bottom left. Every day, a new small piece
of paper with a series of punched holes would be entered in the drawer
of the card reader.
The functionality of the card reader can be compared to the
Steckerbrett of the Enigma machine,
but is easier to use and is cryptographically stronger.
Not many original key cards have survived as they were all destroyed
immediately after use. So far, we've only seen one real life sample.
The key cards were changed daily and they were manufactured by the
Russians for all countries of the Warsaw Pact, for one year in advance.
Each country had its own unique set of cards that was sewed together
as a stack.
Each day, the Fialka operator would tear a card from the stack and
place it in the card reader.
If no card is present in the card reader, you should use the
metal triangle that forces the identity matrix.
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In order to enable you to create your own key cards, we've worked out the exact
dimensions of the original key card that was used with the Fialka machine.
We've also measured the dimensions of the original metal test triangle, so you
can re-create it if it wasn't supplied with your Fialka.
Acurate files can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.
A few years ago Günter Hütter in Austria created a series of replica
key cards that can be ordered directly from him. The cards are sold in
sets of 2 and work perfectly with every Fialka we have tried.
We should like to thank Günter for sharing the results of his experiments.
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Below is a hi-res drawing of a key card, just in case you want to
create your own. The drawing is also available as a 1:1 PDF file
at the bottom of this page. Using that should allow you to print
the cards at actual size.
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Universal key cards. 836KB PDF file
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This is a single page that contains four blank universal key cards.
Print this page at actual size (100%) and cut the four cards apart.
Next create the alignment holes and the actual key holes.
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Sample key card # 014. 65KB PDF file
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This file is similar to the one above, but rather that showing all
possible hole locations, it prints the holes for the sample key card
number 014 as printed in the German Fialka Manual.
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Metal test triangle. 12KB PDF file
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The metal test triangle should be present with your Fialka.
It should be used when no key card is present in the card reader.
If the key card is missing, you might want to download this file
and print it on sturdy paper (e.g. 150 or 200 grams).
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