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← TST EMU
Printing Pocket Cipher Calculator
- wanted item
The PPC-19 was the very first cipher machine developed by
Klaus-Peter Timmann
in the late 1970s, shortly after he had established
his own company
Tele Security Timmann (TST) in Pöcking (Germany).
It had a built-in thermal printer and was suitable for the
encryption of numbers only.
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The device was based on one of the earliest portable calculators
with built-in thermal printer from Hewlett Packard (HP): the HP-19C, shown
in the image on the right [2]. It was introduced by HP in 1975
and was modified by Timmann for use as an encryption/decryption device.
It could however still be used as a scientific calcuator.
The PPC-19 used a cipher algorithm of mixed congruential type
in order to provide good stochastic distribution and security [1].
It had a key-length of 108 which was entered as a 10-digit number
before use.
As the device was only suitable for the encryption and decryption
of numbers, the operator had to use a converion table to convert
the text to numbers first.
When typing, the numbers were instantly encrypted and presented
on the red 7-segment display. In addition, the output could be printed.
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The HP-19C belonged to the first generation of HP calculators with
Continuous Memory, which means that the stored program was not lost
when the device was switched off.
The PPC-19 was available in 1980 at a price of US$ 890 [1],
whilst the price of the bare HP-19C was US$ 345 at the time [2].
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When microprocessors became available in the mid-1970s, TST was not
the only one to develop an electronic pocket-size cipher machine.
Similar (but not identical) devices were made by
Mils Elektronic in
Austria, who developed the PCCM-4000
and Datotek in the US,
who made the slightly bigger DH-26.
However, TST was the only one to base it on an existing pocket calculator.
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This page currently acts as a placeholder for information about the
PPC-19 pocket cipher machine. If you have any additonal information,
such as a manual, a brochure, or -better- an original PPC-19 device,
please contact us. Your help is much appreciated.
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Any links shown in red are currently unavailable.
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© Crypto Museum. Last changed: Sunday, 25 February 2018 - 08:49 CET.
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![Three quarter view of the HP-19C that was used as the base for the PPC-19. Copyright David Hicks [2].](img/hp19c.jpg)
