Enigma Machine Rebooted Relic

[Tony Mickelson]

Since 2012 I started this project of taking a ground dug enigma relic and try to bring the old girl back to life. Between ebay, Enigma Museum (Tom Perera & Klaus Kopacz), and Jim Oram at Enigma Replica, I finally have a semi working enigma machine that is 85-90% original. So let me show you what I started with:

[Tony Mickelson]

Enigma Rebooted

I purchased another enigma base, since the original one had a hole where the battery box was located at. I also found a cheap original bottom half of the wooden enigma box and attached a 1930's turntable lid. Most of the items on the lid are from original enigma wooden lids. I have a complete set of steckers/ plugs but they need to be repaired. Here is the finished project.

[Tony Mickelson]

Enigma Cypher

I rewired it since the original wiring harness was severely damage by the elements. I kept the rotors and the reflector as original as possible, but a couple of the rotors needed the wiring replaced and all of them needed the springs replaced. Actually all the steel coil springs rusted away and needed to be replaced in the machine. I still need to adjust the ratchet mechanism so when I depress the key, the rotor automatically advances one position. Otherwise it is electronically functional.

[Tony Mickelson]

Left Over Parts

Question: Do you know what is better than an Enigma Machine? Answer: Two Enigma Machines. Because it is a little difficult to find original spare parts, I kept everything I did not use. I did not want to just store them in a drawer either. I had enough parts to actual build a second Enigma Machine. I only had to manufacture the lid, a new board for the plug panel (all hardware on the board are original), and build the supports which hold the reflector and rotors together. The ratchet mechanism is broken and I did not rewire it either. It is just for a static display. The box is an original Luftwaffe enigma container. Here are some pictures:

[Tony Mickelson]

My Twins

Here are my twins:

[Salvatore L]

Great job. Congrats..😊

Sal

[Dennis S]

Wow good job....you have patience

[Quatsch]

Awesome, have you tried doing any decoding with your working one?

[NickG]

Amazing restorations. Even a non working static machine is a nice artifact for displaying. Congrats!

[Mike TM]

Nice job

Mike