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Designed in or around 1952, the CX-52 is probably one of the most successful
models of the mechanical Hagelin cipher machines. Numerous variants have been
developed and some of them have been in use until the late 1990s.
This page shows some variants of the CX-52, such as the standard pin-wheel
machine, the RT-version (using Random Tape) and the Arabic version.
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This is the standard version of the CX-52. It's a 6-wheel cipher machine of
the 'pin-and-lug' type that is very difficult to break, even today. This is
mainly due to the high number of configurable options, such as the removable
wheels.
Click any of the images below for a hi-res view.
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CX-52 (RT), Random Tape version
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This is a more secure version of the CX-52, in which the wheels
have been replaced by a 5-bit punched-tape reader. The tape contains
random characters that are 'added' to the clear text and 'subtracted'
at the other end. They were often used for diplomatic traffic with embassies.
If the characters on the tape are truely random, the machine is unbreakable.
In practice, however, the tape was often created with a pseudo-random
number generator (PRN) with makes is more vulnerable.
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This version is identical to the standard CX-52, shown at the
top of this page, except for the fact that the standard alphabet
is replaced by Arabic characters. This is visible on the print wheel
as well as on the 6 cipher wheels.
Machines like this were sold to the Arab countries such as
Saudi-Arabia and Iran.
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Cut-Away version of the CX-52
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This machine was probably used for instruction and training of technical staff.
Various parts of the outer body of the machine have been cut-away so that the
interior becomes visible. The machine is fully functional and has been painted
hamerite blue. The cut-out parts have been highlighted with red paint.
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This keyboard converts the fully-mechnical CX-52 into
an electrically driven cipher machine. It allows input via
a standard keyboard. The (de)coded text is printed automatically
on the paper strip. Keyboards like this were often used to improve
speed in command centers.
More detailed images below.
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