Summary
Mechanical code error detector. The aim of the Newton-Michell system was to make the transmission less vulnerable to noise; it is not in itself a cryptographic machine.
During World War I (1914-1918), this machine was used by the donor's father. He was manager of the Melbourne division of the British Insulated & Helsby Cables Co. Presumably the machine was used for cables to and from the parent company. This company was also in contact with the Australian government in regard to the supply of electrical cables (for military supplies?) as none were manufactured locally. The manager's office was at one stage in the Wool Exchange Building.
Physical Description
Rectangular dirty yellow metal frame with manually operated gearing attached to extended toothed bars and cylindrical cylinders with alphanumeric characters. The machine is a rectangular box (brass) open on the top, with 5 rods set in it. Each rod holds a paper cylinder printed with numbers and letters. There is a knob in the centre on one outside edge that activates a central cog wheel. A square frame with paper labeling sits over these cylinders with slots presumably to see some alignments. There are several loose pieces of brass fittings that appear to attach to the workings inside the box but it is hard to say their actual placement. It may have had a window top cover but this is not currently located with the machine. Accompanying the machine: * Sheet of paper with instructions for "The N.M. Code System" - Describes a manual method for manually encoding and decoding telegrams. Uses tables (two books provided) to create a coded message. Examples of coding and decoding a message are given. * Booklet 1907, Red, hard cover, gold embossed lettering, (entitled " N.M. TABLES") - lists three tables of numbers and letters used in the N.M. Code System * Booklet 1907, Grey, hard cover gold embossed lettering, {entitled "TELECONOMY (TRADE MARK) TABLES} - lists three tables of numbers and letters used in the N.M. Code System. * Large brass coverplate (190mm x 120mm) with randomly distributed letters arranged in five columns. * One small metal plate (broken off from cover plate). * One brass end plate (225mm x 35mm) with 5 pear shaped holes, matching the spacing of the shafts protruding out of the end of the coding machine * Five brass indicator arms with small rectangular viewing slot * One semi-circular brass bezel plate for shaft protruding out of the side of the coding machine. * One long brass strip with a cut-off at each end, and a brass palted stuck on one side (plate has five teeth).
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Donation from Miss Betty Newton, circa 1986
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User
Mr Henry C. Newton - British Insulated & Helsby Cables Ltd, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1914-1918
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Patentee
Mr Henry C. Newton, 'Kenilworth', Barry Street, Kew, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1908
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Patentee
Mr Anthony G. Michell, 413 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1908
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Inscriptions
* Machine: Each rod holds a paper cylinder printed with numbers and letters. * Sheet of paper with instructions for "The N.M. Code System": N.M. Code Proprietry Limited, Registered office, 453 LaTrobe Street Melbourne.Date: 1907 * Red booklet: " N.M. TABLES" / (text) / COPYRIGHT REGISTERED 1907 / (text) * Grey booklet: "TELECONOMY (TRADE MARK) TABLES" / (text) / COPYRIGHT REGISTERED 1907 / (text) This printed paper double fold has instructions for setting a code combination. This was entitled "Teleconomy" and on the back page had the address "N.M. Code Pty Ltd, 453 Latrobe St. Melbourne."
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Overall Dimensions
435 mm (Length), 235 mm (Width), 100 mm (Height)
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Keywords