loop_disconnectNov 26, 2022

I've been packing tonight for B-Sides Sydney tomorrow - we'll have some cracking toys to demo and show.

Also I did promise some vintage cipher machine goodness so here's the first one.

First off, a Swiss NEMA (sometimes called the Swiss Enigma as its based on the German machine) in perfect operating order. We can do a light tear down and some hands on demo on this unit. It's also in pristine condition as its a "War" machine meaning its one of the ones installed in a nuclear bunker in the early 1950s and it laid there unused for the best part of 40 years waiting for an apocalypse that never came.

NEMA's major improvement over Enigma is that it has four rotors but each one comprises two layers - a cipher ring like Enigma (so the wiring switches letters as the current goes through the rotor) but also a stepping ring that changes the order that the rotors advance when you press a key.

I've got a second NEMA on the way so we'll soon have them happily chatting away together for a more end to end demo scenario.

#cybersecurity #coldwar #espionage #spycraft #vintageespionage

Show threadBob Lord 🔐 Nov 26, 2022
@loop_disconnect Cool! What else do you have in your collection? Do you have a website?
Show threadloop_disconnect

@boblord Hi Bob - I've not got around to building a website - that and (actually good photography that would do the collection justice) are not really things I've spent time on yet, it'll come.

I do sometimes get a bunch of related items and put them on the dining table and photograph them in-context.

Broadly speaking, the collection covers 5 main domains 1) Cipher 2) Espionage - ie including bugs and recorders, cameras, counter-espionage and tradecraft equipment 3) Covert communications - so spy radions, burst encoders that sort of thing 4) "Birth of Cyber" - two parts to this - the early one shows how WWII cryptanalysis led to the creation of the first computers, and then how analog espionage has evolved into cyber 5) "Related Cultural Artefacts" - books, diaries, posters, medals, uniforms, etc etc

Here are some cipher items

#cybersecurity #coldwar #espionage #spycraft #vintageespionage

Nov 26, 2022 at 11:24amWeb
Show threadBob Lord 🔐 Nov 26, 2022
@loop_disconnect This is outstanding. You have some remarkable pieces. I’d love to get a Reihenschieber someday. Thanks for sharing. You can check out ilord.com to see some of my items. 🔐
Show threadloop_disconnectNov 27, 2022
@boblord Hi Bob I had a look at your site, that’s a pretty amazing collection you have there. I do love the decrypts - wow! and always loved the look of some of the older manual devices like Transpositeur and Sphinx. You must have been collecting a while and I assume you are in CryptoCollectors, I have found people there to be very generous with their knowledge. Cheers Mike
Show threadBob Lord 🔐 Nov 27, 2022
@loop_disconnect The decrypts are scans I made at the NCM a long time ago. I wish they were mine! I should clarify that on the website. And yes, the CryptoCollectors are wonderful folks!
Show threadloop_disconnectNov 27, 2022
@boblord Bob can I ask if your Fialka is running? I noticed a while back there was a US collector who has put a couple of YouTube videos up, I think the only ones I’ve seen of a running machine. I’ve only just got the Fialka, it was one of JA boxes in a recent auction. and he thought it might be operable, I’m thinking I might ask someone to check it out with variac etc before I go plugging it in.
Show threadBob Lord 🔐 Nov 27, 2022
@loop_disconnect Yes it's running. I don't think I've seen the YouTube video but I'll look for it. Good idea to be cautious before plugging it in. Let me know if you want to talk more.
Show threadloop_disconnectSep 13, 2023
@boblord Hi Bob I saw your comment on CryptoCollectors and have pinged you on LinkedIn. Today I post more there as I don’t have a website yet, most of time I’m taking gear out to show at cyber events - an audience I know from my day job. Cheers Mike
Show threadloop_disconnectDec 31, 2023
@boblord Just sent you connection request on LinkedIn, will post some updates on how the collection is coming along.