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Hagelin
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Hagelin BC-543
Motor-driven pin-wheel cipher machine with keyboard

The BC-543 is a rather strange member of the Hagelin family. As the name suggests, it was developed around 1943. It is not based on the earlier C-52 however, but on the nearly identical BC-38 which in turn was based on the C-38, a.k.a. the war-time M-209. The BC-543 is in fact functionally identical to the BC-38 and M-209 and differs only in minor manufacturing details.

One of the most obvious differences with the BC-38 is the absence of the large slide resistor just behind the cipher wheels that was used to adjust the mains voltage between 110 and 220 Volt. On the BC-543, it is hard-wired and can be changed with an internal voltage selector plug.

The image on the right shows a typical BC-543 unit that was used between in the 1950s and 60s by the Dutch Army [1], where it was known as the MX-3002 [2]. Although the machine has seen many years of service, it is still in excellent condition. It is shown here without the top cover.
  

When not in use, the BC-543 was commonly stored inside a protective case, that has soft padding on the inside, in order to protect the machine during transport. The lid of this case has a hidden compartment with the mains power cable and – in some cases – some spare parts or supplies.

At the rear is a small compartment with a hinged lid, behind which the common maintenance accessories are stored, such as the oil tube, the ink tube, a pair of tweezers and a plastic box with spare parts. On the earlier BC-38, this space was used for the mains voltage slide resistor. Unfortunately, the maintenance tools and spares are missing from the machine shown here.

The protective carrying case of the BC-543
The soft-padded interior of the case. The lid has a hidden compartment.
The machine with the top lid closed
Typical view of the BC-543 with the top cover removed
Rear of the BC-543
The maintenance storage compartment at the rear
Hand-crank operation
Close-up of the coding wheels
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The protective carrying case of the BC-543
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The soft-padded interior of the case. The lid has a hidden compartment.
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The machine with the top lid closed
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Typical view of the BC-543 with the top cover removed
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Rear of the BC-543
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The maintenance storage compartment at the rear
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Hand-crank operation
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Close-up of the coding wheels

Interior
Each machine comes with two different keys: one for the operator that can only be used to remove the dust cover, and one for the crypto-officer, that allows the daily key to be set. The operator's key has a single cut-out in the circumfere, whilst the officer's key has two of these. The message key could be set by the operator by altering the initial position of the coding wheels. For this, the operator didn't need to have access to the machine's interior. Opening the top lid of the machine with the special officer's key, reveals the interior.

At the heart of the machine are the usual coding wheels and the rotating 'cage', very similar to those of, say, the M-209. The only difference is that in the BC-543 they are mounted upside-down (see the image on the right).

The main difference with a smaller Hagelin machines, is the presence of a keyboard. Behind the keyboard is a large axle with notches, which effectively 'translates' a key from the keyboard into a rotation (angle) of the axle, much like setting the alphabet wheel on the left side of the smaller machine (image 3 and 4 below).
  

The machine can be operated in two ways: with the build-in motor, or with the retractable handle. The latter can be useful in areas with no mains power, or in case of a power failure. When the built-in motor of the BC-543 is used, the whole coding/decoding process is fully automated and the operator can encipher a message at typing speed.

Typical view of the interior of the BC-543
Close-up of the motor and the mains power selector (110/220V)
Typical view of the interior of the BC-543
Typical view of the interior of the BC-543
Close-up of the code wheels and the 'cage'
The two paper rolls stored underneath the machine
Close-up of the two printers
Oil instrunctions on the inside of the top cover
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Typical view of the interior of the BC-543
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Close-up of the motor and the mains power selector (110/220V)
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Typical view of the interior of the BC-543
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Typical view of the interior of the BC-543
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Close-up of the code wheels and the 'cage'
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The two paper rolls stored underneath the machine
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Close-up of the two printers
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Oil instrunctions on the inside of the top cover


As the keyboard was considered a useful addition to a mechanical cipher machine, Hagelin developed a range of external keyboards for their existing range of smaller machines. One example is the B-621 keyboard that was used with the CX-52.


Mechanism
The BC-38 is a very complex mechanical machine. Although it is driven by an electric motor (see below), the entire enciphering/deciphering is mechanical. Basic operation of the machine is identical its non-electric equivalent, the C-38 and the M-209. On the M-209, the user has to enter a letter by setting a letter wheel at the left side of the machine and then engaging the mechanism manually, whereas the BC-38 allows a letter to be typed directly on a keyboard, whilst the mechanism is moved by an electric motor.

Each letter of the keyboard is converted into a rotation (angle) by means of a large notched axle that is mounted just behind the keyboard. It is clearly visible in the image on the right (top left to bottom right). Each notch is mounted at a different angle that corresponds to the angle of the same letter on an M-209.

When the machine is turned on, the motor starts spinning at a constant speed, whilst the rest of the mechanism is in rest. Pressing a key on the keyboard initiates a series of actions, which are described in detail below.
  

First of all, when a key is pressed, the rest of the keyboard is blocked, whilst the notched axle, or alphabet shaft, moves to the desired angle. This involves the activation of two mechanisms. One mechanism, located at the left (image #2), releases the wound-up alphabet shaft, whilst the second one blocks the keyboard. The latter is located behind the alphabet shaft, close to the main spindle. It is the part with the large spring, clearly visible in image #3.

When this has happened, the mechanism is coupled to the main motor-driven spindle at the heart of the machine. As a result, the cage makes a full revolution. At the end of this revolution, the result is printed onto a paper-tape (#4 and #5). At the same time, the cipher wheels are moved to the next position, by a rounded notch on the circumfere of the cage (#6).

When the cage makes its revolution, the drive gear at the right hand side (#7) is rotated as well. It winds-up a small spring-loaded mechanism to the right of the alphabet shaft (#8), so that the shaft is ready to encode the next letter. The gear mechanism at the right is also used by the retractable handle at the right of the machine.

The notched axle, just behind the keyboard, that converts a key-press into an angle on the print wheel.
Axle release mechanism
Keyboard blocking mechanism
Printer
Printer control mechanism
Cipher wheels stepping advance notch
Drive gear
Alphabet shaft wind-up mechanism
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The notched axle, just behind the keyboard, that converts a key-press into an angle on the print wheel.
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Axle release mechanism
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Keyboard blocking mechanism
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Printer
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Printer control mechanism
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Cipher wheels stepping advance notch
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Drive gear
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Alphabet shaft wind-up mechanism

Electric circuit
Different versions of the BC-543 exist. The electric circuit of the initial BC-543 is very simple. It is nearly identical to that of the earlier BC-38. Electric current is only used to power the motor and not for the encryption process. Only a few additional components are used to connect the motor directly to the mains, as shown in the circuit diagram below. A large wire-wound adjustable resistor in the power rail, allows the machine to be used on both 110V and 220V. Note that this resistor runs very hot when powering the machine from 220V, as it dissipates half the energy.


The BC-543 is driven by a so-called universal motor [1] . This is basically a 110V series-wound motor designed to be powered from both DC and AC sources. Such motors have a high torque on startup, but have the nasty side-effect that the speed (RPM) keeps increasing when it has no load. An adjustable wire-wound resistor (Ra), connected in series with the motor, allows the machine to be powered from a 220V mains network. A capacitor (C2) is connected directly to the brushes of the armature of the motor, in order to reduce sparks caused by the commutator.

Speed control
In the initial version of the BC-543, motor speed is controlled by a so-called centrifugal switch (S2). On startup, the motor is connected directly to the mains. Once it has reached its nominal speed, the centrifugal switch is opened, which effectively turns off the motor. As a result, the rotational speed will decrease and the contact will close, after which speed increases again, etc.

Two coils (L1 and L2) and a capacitor (C1) are used to protect the contacts of the switch (S2) and reduce sparks. A varistor (Rv), connected in parallel to the switch, is used to further reduce the extremely high voltages caused when opening and closing the contacts of S2.

Furthermore, two resistors (R1 and R2) are connected in parallel to the speed control circuit, in order to prevent the current from dropping to zero when opening the contacts of S2. They effectively reduce the quality factor (Q) of the resonance circuit (L1, L2, C1).
  

The image above shows the motor of a Hagelin BC-543. Compared to the motor of the BC-38, the armature is mounted the other way around. The commutator is clearly visible at the centre. The construction at the front is the centrifugal switch. It can be adjusted with the knurled knob.

Runaway
As most BC-543 machines are over 60 years old now, you may encounter problems with a leaking capacitor (C1). If this capacitor runs hot after the machine has been on for a few minutes, it is likely to start leaking shortly. If this happens, the centrifugal switch (S2) is shorted and can no longer control the motor's speed, resulting in a so-called runaway. If you suddenly hear the motor speed gradually increasing, this is exactly what is happening. In such cases you should turn the machine off immediately and replace C1 by a modern alternative (100 nF, ≥ 500V).

Motor of a Hagelin BC-543
Centrifugal switch
Centrifugal switch
Commutator
The varistor mounted below the centrifugal switch, seen from the rear of the machine, after removing a small panel.
Close-up of the varistor mounted below the centrifugal switch, seen from the rear of the machine, after removing a small panel.
Bottom side of the BC-38 showing the electric components
Position of the motor inside the BC-38, clearly showing the commutator facing towards the front of the machine.
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Motor of a Hagelin BC-543
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Centrifugal switch
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Centrifugal switch
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Commutator
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The varistor mounted below the centrifugal switch, seen from the rear of the machine, after removing a small panel.
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Close-up of the varistor mounted below the centrifugal switch, seen from the rear of the machine, after removing a small panel.
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Bottom side of the BC-38 showing the electric components
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Position of the motor inside the BC-38, clearly showing the commutator facing towards the front of the machine.

Improved version
At some point, the design of the BC-543 was improved and simplified. Around serial number 5500, the motor was replaced by a version with 6 rather than 2 connections. Both field windings of the motor (f1 and f2) were split into two sections, so that they could be connected either in parallel or in series, depending on the selected mains voltage. The circuit diagram below shows the simplified circuit diagram of the improved machine.


Because of the additional field windings, the motor could be wired for either 110V or 220V. As a result, the large wire-wound slide potentiometer fitted at the back of the machine was no longer needed. The space that was previously taken up by the potentiometer, was now used for a compartment where the ink and oil tubes, and the maintenance kit were stored.

At the same time, the centrifugal switch was replaced by a centrifugal brake, which means that the additional components from the original diagram (S2, L1, L2, Rv, C1, R1 and R2) could be dropped as well. Selection of the correct mains voltage, was done by adding an ingenious pin-operated selection switch, which is shown in the drawing below:


Three pins are mounted on a horizontal plastic bar. These three pins have no connection between them (i.e. they are isolated), but are used for shorting two contacts at either side of each pin. In the above drawings, the voltage selector is shown in the 220V position.

Motor and voltage selector
Close-up of the voltage selected, mounted on top of the motor, and the fuse.
Underside of voltage selector
The compartment at the rear, used for storing the oil and ink tubes, and the maintenance kit.
A bottom view of the motor, seen from the paper tape compartment. The wires of the capacitors are easily broke...
Bottom view of the interior of the improved BC-543 with the multi-voltage motor. Most of the other components have been dropped.
Motor and centrifugal brake
Centrifugal brake
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Motor and voltage selector
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Close-up of the voltage selected, mounted on top of the motor, and the fuse.
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Underside of voltage selector
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The compartment at the rear, used for storing the oil and ink tubes, and the maintenance kit.
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A bottom view of the motor, seen from the paper tape compartment. The wires of the capacitors are easily broke...
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Bottom view of the interior of the improved BC-543 with the multi-voltage motor. Most of the other components have been dropped.
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Motor and centrifugal brake
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Centrifugal brake

Restoration
When restoring a BC-543 of the first type, it is advised to replace all capacitors and modify the circuit slightly, as shown in the diagram below. This prevents the full mains voltage to be connected to the chassis when the main plug is inserted the wrong way around and the power switch is OFF. For safety reasons, you should always use a mains cable with an earth wire and connect it to a wall socket that has a ground terminal.



Documentation
  1. Service Instruction for cryptographer, type BC-543
    Full service manual. Date unknown. 1

  2. C-446A en M-209 Beschrijving en Analyse 2
    C-446 and M-207 description and analysis (Dutch).
    SMID. Date unknown. 3
  1. Document kindly provided by Historische Collectie Verbindingsdienst via BartW. November 2017.
  2. This document describes the Hagelin M-209 and the C-446A in great detail. Not only is the working principle of the machines explained, it also discusses the machine's cryptanalysis and methods for its attack. The document is in Dutch and was released for publication in 2011. 2
  3. Released for publication in 2011 by DIVI (Dutch School for Military Intelligence) [1].

References
  1. Dutch Department of Defense, Defensie Inlichtingen en Veiligheids Instituut (DIVI)
    BC-543 courtesy of DIVI, donated in 2010.

  2. Museum Verbindingsdienst, Dutch Royal Signals Museum
    Visiten 2010.

  3. SMID, C-446A en M-209 Beschrijving en Analyse
    Descryption and analysis of the Hagelin C-446A and M-209 (Dutch).
    Dutch Department of Defence, Military Intelligence School [1].
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© Crypto Museum. Created: Thursday 01 March 2012. Last changed: Sunday, 14 April 2024 - 11:26 CET.
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