RUSSIAN COLD WAR ERA M-125 FIALKA CIPHER MACHINES:
Very little information has previously been available about this interesting
machine since it was used throughout the Cold War and well into the 1980s. In
addition to the brief material below, You will find hundreds of detailed
photographs, descriptions, wiring data tables, and explanations in the links
in the following fIALKA MENU. Much higher resolution versions of all the
Fialka photographs that would not fit in this CD are available in a separate
Fialka CD.
INTRODUCTION TO THE RUSSIAN FIALKA:
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
The Fialka is generally similar in design to the German Enigma cipher machine
but it has 10 rotors with 30 Russian characters/contacts instead of the 3 or 4
rotors with 26 letters/numbers/contacts in the German WW-2 Enigmas. The first
version of the Fialka, the M-100 was produced in the 1930s and it was followed
by the M-105 and then the M-125 models described here. The M-125 models
include the M-125-MN and the much more complicated M-125-3MN. (M-125-3MP3
and M-125-3MP2 models have also been reported. They appear nearly
identical with the M-125-3MN but may have slightly different keyboards.)
The codename "FIALKA" is the Russian word for "VIOLET".
INPUT AND OUTPUT:
Instead of illuminating light bulbs to display the output characters resulting
from inputting characters into the keyboard, the Fialka prints the output
characters on paper tape and simultaneously punches holes in the tape in 5
level characters resembling those of a Baudot teletype machine tape. The
Fialka also includes a paper tape reader for use in rapidly inputting
characters that have been punched into a paper tape.
CARD READER:
The Fialka incorporates a card reader which allows punched paper cards to be
used to set internal coding parameters. These cards replaced the clumsy,
difficult-to-set, and therefore error-prone plugboards of the German
Enigmas.
DIRECTION OF ROTOR ROTATION:
The Fialka rotates each of its 10 rotors in a direction that is opposite to
that of each neighboring rotor. Most other cipher machines have rotors that
all turn in the same direction. The pins that control the
rotation of individual rotors are described and the locations of all pins for
all rotors are given in tables in this rotor description link:
UNIQUE REFLECTORS:
The reflector at the left of the rotor stack is different from the reflector
in an Enigma and different in each Fialka model. Unlike an Enigma which has a
completely self-contained reflector, the reflector in the M-125-MN Fialka has
one bundle of wires extending down from it. The reflector in the M-125-3MN /
-3MP3 has three bundles of wires coming out of it.
MULTI-LINGUAL OPERATION:
The M-125-3MN and M-125-3MP3 models differ from the M-125-MN models in that
they incorporate multi-lingual keyboards and some unique and complex switches
that allow the machine to function with several languages.
ROTORS:
There are two different sets of 10 rotors that can be inserted into either
machine. If present, the second set of rotors may be carried in a cylinder
inside the cover of the machines. One set is non-adjustable with fixed ring
settings and a fixed wiring maze. The other set is exceptionally cleverly
designed in that it allows for both the normal Enigma-like changes in ring
settings (the outer lettered ring may be rotated) coupled with the ability to
actually remove the internal wiring maze module from each rotor. Once the
wiring maze is removed, it may be reinserted into the rotor in any of the 30
possible positions and/or flipped upside down and inserted in any of the 30
positions to give a total of 60 unique wiring circuits. In addition, the
wiring maze module itself may be removed from the rotor and inserted into a
different rotor.
There are at least two series of rotors. Each series has unique wiring and
rotation blocking pin locations. Each series is documented in the links that
accompany this publication. One wiring and rotation option is found in the
series of rotors with the numerical prefix '3K'. At lease some of these
rotors are known to have come from Poland. A second wiring and rotation
option is found in the series of rotors with the numerical prefix '6K'. At
least some of these rotors are known to have come from the former
Czechoslovakia. It is possible, therefore, that the different series were
used in different countries and/or by different military entities. All rotor photographs and wiring data are given in this rotor
description link:
HOW THE 30 KEY KEYBOARD MAY HAVE BEEN USED TO REPRESENT 33 CYRILLIC
LETTERS:
In order to allow the use of the 30 key keyboard and 30 contact rotors, the
Russians probably did not use three letters from the 33 letter alphabet. They
probably omitted The soft E, usually shown as an E with an umlaut, the
reversed letter E which is actually a Greek letter with a short sound that is
often found in cognates, and the hard sign which has generally not been used
since the revolution.
Numbers were apparently represented by the 2, 5, 7, and 8 on the keyboard keys
and by other symbols. The Roman numeral 1 or I may have represented 1. The
Cyrillic 3 and soft sign may have represented 3 and 6 respectively. The
Cyrillic "ya" may have represented 9 with 10 being represented by the Cyrillic
"yu". More information will be added as it becomes available.
DESCRIPTIVE PHOTOGRAPHS:
The following photographs should help to clarify the comments and descriptions
above: Hundreds of additional Fialka photographs, descriptions and wiring and
rotation data tables are available in the links listed in the menu at the top
of this section. Much higher resolution versions of all these Fialka
photographs are available on a separate Fialka CD.
THE MODEL M-125-MN FIALKA:
(45 additional photographs and descriptions can be found in this link):
170s1h A left side view of the Model M-125-MN Fialka showing the slot for
inserting a punched paper programming card:
170s3d A right side view of the Model M-
125-MN Fialka showing the emergency hand crank and the a slot for activating a
mechanical switch under the rotors:
170s1i A closer view of the keyboard
showing the character counter and paper tape reader:
170s1k A view of the 10 rotors after
opening the cover. The paper tape printer and punch are also visible behind
the rotor stack.
170s1n A top view of the Fialka after the
cover has been removed (3 screws). The paper tape printer and punch are
visible behind the rotor stack:
170s1o The left side of the Fialka with
the cover removed:
170s1p The right side of the Fialka with
the cover removed:
170s1t A view of the 10 rotors with the
outer levers in the released position. The brown reflector on the left and
input wheel on the right have been moved out and the index bar has been raised
to facilitate rotor removal:
170s1u Removing the rotors reveals the
complex drive cog mechanism that causes each rotor to revolve in a different
direction from the adjacent rotor:
The lower horizontal bar activates cogs that pull forward on the bottoms of
rotors 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 (counting from left to right) and rotate them so that
the tops of the rotors move AWAY from the keyboard.
The upper horizontal bar activates cogs that pull back on the bottoms of
rotors 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 (counting from left to right) and rotate them so that
the tops of the rotors move TOWARD the keyboard.
A set of 10 spring-loaded arms with rollers holds the 10 rotors in their
detent positions.
170s1v A view of the 10 rotor stack after
removal from the Fialka. The rotors may be removed from their shaft and moved
to different positions as shown in this photograph:
170s6e The 10 rotors have a fixed
internal wiring maze connecting the input contacts to the output contacts. It
may be uncovered as shown but it is not designed to be modified:
The Model M-125-3MN Fialka:
(42 additional photographs and descriptions can be found in this link):
(90 additional photographs of the disassembly of the Model M-125-3MN Fialka
can be found in this link):
This model is MUCH more complex than the M-125-MN model.
it has the following additional features:
1. A multilingual keyboard.
2. A mechanical switch along the right side of the keyboard
that modifies keyboard function.
3. A 3-position lever on the back of the Fialka that modifies paper tape
punch operation.
4. A large matrix switch that alters the wiring of the programming matrix and
therefore the effect of the programming cards.
5. A rotary switch located under the base of the Fialka.
6. A position on the switch located to the right of the input wheel that
stops rotation of the rotors and character counting as characters are typed
in.
7. An extended copyholder.
171s1a The left side view of the M-125-3MN Fialka shows the copy holder with
its extensions, the character counter, the multilingual keyboard, and the slot
on the left side for the paper programming card.
171s1k The carrier for the paper programming card being pulled out of the left
side of the Fialka to allow insertion of the card.
u_171s5i The complicated multi-contact switch located under the punched paper
programming card that switches many of its contacts. This switch is not found
in the M-125-MN model.
171s1b The Right side of the Fialka showing the copy holder and input wheel
levers. The switches under the keyboard and rotors, and the hole for the hand
crank that allows manual operation of the Fialka are just barely visible.
u_171s1c The 10 rotors after the cover door is opened. The index bar has been
lowered in place in front of the rotors to allow accurate setting.
u_171s1w A top view of the Fialka with cover removed (3 screws). The power
switch and fuses are in the left rear. The paper tape printer ribbon reels,
the printer and the paper tape punch are behind the 10 rotors. The brown
reflector is on the left end of the rotor stack. The input wheel
is on the right end of the rotor stack. The keyboard and paper tape reader
with its manual paper tape feed wheel are in front.
u_175s4w A top view of the Fialka showing all 5 of the modular components
after disassembly.
The Electric Motor is in the top left.
The Paper Tape Punch and Printer is in the top right.
The Base Plate is in the middle of the picture.
The Rotor Mechanism is below the base plate.
The Keyboard is below the rotor mechanism.
A set of 90 additional photographs of the disassembly of the M-125-3MN
Fialka:
u_171s1m A closer view of the 10 rotors with the index bar raised to permit
removal of the rotor stack.
The two rounded levers that push the reflector on the left and the input wheel
on the right inward have been pulled forward so that the reflector and input
wheel may be pushed outwards to allow the rotor stack to be removed.
These rotors are the Non-Adjustable rotors. The multi-adjustable rotors
are described later under accessories and in the special detailed section on
rotors and rotor movement.
u_171s1y The drive mechanisms that produce the rotation of alternate
rotors.
The lower horizontal bar activates cogs that pull forward on the bottoms of
rotors 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 (counting from left to right) and rotate them so that
the tops of the rotors move AWAY from the keyboard.
The upper horizontal bar activates cogs that pull back on the bottoms of
rotors 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 (counting from left to right) and rotate them so that
the tops of the rotors move TOWARD the keyboard.
A set of 10 spring-loaded arms with rollers holds the 10 rotors in their
detent positions.
u_171s1n The 10 rotor stack of Non-adjustable rotors is shown here
after removal from the Fialka. The rotors may be removed from the shaft and
reinserted in any order:
>
u_171s6e The internal hand-wired set of connections between the input contacts
and output contacts of this Non-Adjustable rotor is called a wiring maze.
It can be inspected or repaired by removing a metal disc as shown here. The
wiring of these non-adjustable rotors is not designed to be changed.
u_170s6p The Multi-Adjustable Rotors can have their modular wiring maze
removed and reinserted in 60 different ways. Their outer ring setting can
also be changed in 30 ways. Details and more pictures are in the links above.
The Multi-Adjustable Modular Wiring Maze Rotors, other accessories, and
metal cover:
(22 additional rotor photographs, descriptions, and data tables
can be found in this link):
(17 additional photographs and descriptions of the accessories
can be found in this link):
u_170s7u The Cover of the Fialka may contain a number of accessories
including a set of complex multi-adjustable modular wiring maze rotors,
additional print wheels, a special test reflector, and a hand crank.
The 24 Volt Power Supply:
(8 additional photographs and descriptions can be found in this link):
u_170s8a The 24 Volt DC Power Supply.
NOTE: I AM ALWAYS INTERESTED IN PHOTOGRAPHING OR BUYING VERY UNUSUAL ENIGMA-RELATED MATERIALS, PARTS, EARLY COMPUTERS, AND TELEGRAPH KEYS !
Professor Thomas B. Perera
Montclair State University
COPYRIGHT NOTICE: (Copyright (c) 2005: Prof. Tom Perera Ph. D.)
Although all the pictures and text are copyrighted, you may use any of them
for your own personal applications including public lectures and
demonstrations, publications and websites as long as you mention the
www.w1tp.com/enigma Museum. If you plan to offer them for sale to the public
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Please also see the disclaimer of warranty.