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Enigma ← H&R
Konski & Krüger
Konski und Krüger, abbreviated K&K, was a German
manufacturer of electrical
and mechanical appliances, founded in 1919 by Alexander Konski
and Carl Krüger in Berlin (Germany). The exact date is unknow.
The company is well-known for the cinema speakers it made during the 1930s.
Before and during World War II (WWII), it
was the largest manufacturer of the
Enigma cipher machine and some of its
accessories, licenced by and on behalf of Heimsoeth und Rinke.
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Konski & Krüger objects on this website
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The company was founded in 1919 by Alexander Konski (Berlin, 27 February 1877 -
Stettin, Pommern, 5 October 1935) and Carl Krüger. In the 1920s and 30s they
became known for their range of (cinema) loudspeakers and radio-related
equipment.
The cinema speakers manufactured during these years, carry the logo
shown below. It consists of two letters 'k' — the initials of the founders —
one of which is mirrored. Below the letters are two curved lines, symbolising
the magnets of a speaker. The vertical line is the membrane.
At some point, the company was renamed Karl Krüger vorm. Konski & Krüger
(Karl Krüger formerly known as Konski & Krüger). It is possible that, after
the untimely death of Konski (aged 58), Krüger Germanised his first name 'Carl'
to 'Karl', so that he could still use the existing logo. it is also possible
that Carl Krüger had a son by the name of 'Karl' who had meanwhile taken over.
The name change appears to have been reverted later, as during WWII the
company was known again as Konski & Krüger. The equipment manufactured
for the German Army
shortly before and during the war, no longer carried the 'kk' logo, but simply
the name 'Konski & Krüger' in the typeface shown above.
Another possibility is that Karl Krüger was just a trade name, and that
the official company name registered with the Chamber of Commerce in Berlin
wasn't changed.
In October 1940, following a directive from the German High Command (OKW),
company names were gradually abandonned and replaced by manufacturer codes.
In July 1941 K&K received the code 'gvx', which subsequently appeared on
several well-known Enigma-related products, including the
MZSE/MZSS Schreibmax printer,
the MZL external lamp panel and a
modest number of 300 Enigma machines.
The majority of Enigma machines made by K&K however, was labelled 'jla'
— the manufacturer code assigned to Heimsoeth und Rinke —
the original client and licensor. 1
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Actually, the Enigma machines that were labelled 'gvx' were made by Geyer
under contract from K&K. Geyer did not have its own manufacturer code.
All machines with the manufacturer code 'jla' were made by K&K.
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Since its foundation in 1919, K&K was located at Schiffbauerdamm 19,
Berlin NW6. This address appears in various adverts from the 1920s.
Around 1932, the company moved to its final address at
Chausseestrasse 117, Berlin N4,
where the Enigma machines were made.
At the 4th floor of the building was a secured area in which
the rotors were wired according to secret wiring schemes.
This is also the place where the final assembly and testing of the
military Enigma took place, outside the view of the rest of the personnel [2].
Customers who wanted to visit the company to oversee production of machines
and parts, needed special permission from the Wehrmacht.
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At the end of the war, the company was raided by the Russians, who took most
of the Enigma documentation, including a full set of drawings of the
Lückenfüllerwalze (Lf) [3].
The company was later also visited by the American TICOM, which took
the remaining documentation plus some
Lückenfüllerwalze (Lf) prototypes
and a full set of drawings.
As far as we know, Konsky & Krüger ceased to exist at the end of the war.
During the Cold War, the company's
former address at Chausseestrasse (which is the northern extension of
Friedrichstrasse) was in the Russian-occupied part of Berlin.
The building at Chausseestrasse 117 still exists today (2025).
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Name Konski & Krüger Abbreviation K&K Manuf. code gvx Active 1919-1945 Country Germany Registration Berlin, 13103 Brands Membra, Enigma Founders Alexander Konski, Carl Krüger
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- 1919
Konski & Krüger
Fabrik elektrischer und mechanischer Apparate
Schiffbauerdamm 19
Berlin NW6
Germany
- ~1932
Konski & Krüger
Fabrik elektrischer und mechanischer Apparate
Chausseestrasse 117
Berlin N4
Germany
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© Crypto Museum. Created: Monday 21 April 2025. Last changed: Wednesday, 23 April 2025 - 22:45 CET.
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