SPECIAL COLLECTION: 4 RELIC SG-41z CIPHER MACHINES

This is an exceptional rare offering of multiple relic SG-41z (Schlüsselgerät 41Z) cipher machines.

SG-41Z. Machine 1. As found.

Offered are 4 relic SG-41z cipher machines recovered from the water. Select parts from a fifth machine are also included in this collection as are rare original maintenance documents for these machines. All of the machines show the characteristic corrosion seen on machines that have been recovered from water. This unique collection of rare German cipher machines is being offered for sale to collectors, restoration specialists, and museums. This collection likely represents the largest single holding of SG-41 cipher machines known to exist.

The Schlüsselgerät 41 (SG-41) was one of Germany’s last efforts at developing an advanced cipher machine during WWII. The machine is also known as Hitlermühle (Hitler Mill) since mill is slang for typewriter and this machine has a crank handle on its side like the return lever for a manual typewriter. The word Schluesselgeraet is the German name for a cipher device. The SG-41 was manufactured by Wanderer Werke in Chemnitz (Germany) and was put into service in October of 1944. Although 11,000 units were ordered by the German military, it is believed that only 1000 – 2000 units were delivered and put into service by the end of the war in May 1945. A small number of SG-41 machines produced were the SG-41z variant. This SG-41z model had a numbers-only keyboard with 10 keys. This model was produced for the Luftwaffe and was used to transmit weather reports via a code using only numbers. As the war drew to a close, Luftwaffe command ordered the machines destroyed, often by purposely damaging them and then throwing them into lakes and the ocean. Only one or two examples of these machines exist in original condition as nearly all of these machines were destroyed or left hidden in bodies of water.

SG-41 enciphered messages were not able to be broken by the code breakers at Bletchley Park during the war.

For further details on the history and technology of the SG-41z please visit the very informative Crypto Museum website: http://www.cryptomuseum.com/crypto/sg41/index.htm

This collection is locate in Europe. It consists of 4 relic, water found SG-41Z machines, parts from a fifth SG-41z machine, and maintenance documents found with the machines.

The seller offered the following comments to accompany the pictures (our translations are included in parentheses).

Machine No. 1 and 2 are in (unknown) undiscovered condition, the machines 3 and 4 have (been) partially disassembled and roughly cleaned.

From the fifth SG-41 only spare parts are available.

All five machines were sunk in their original metal cases into the ocean. This fact protected them from stronger corrosion.

Unfortunately, all metal cases and cipher wheels (are damaged by corrosion) were unable to withstand the corrosion.

Therefore, only fragments of it (these boxes) have survived.

Although it is not apparent in the photo, Machine No.4 is the best preserved of them all.

It’s amazing how well all steel and iron parts of this cipher machine are still preserved.

Surprisingly, the pieces of paper are also still well preserved.

As a small sensation (pleasant surprise) the machines No. 3 and 4 were each (found) with a SG-41 equipment maintenance instruction salvaged from the water.

These original WW II cipher-documents are extremely rare and, in my opinion, not yet known.

The whole lot includes:

Four exemplars SG-41 Z, all in original condition, not restored.

– SG-41 Z Nr. 1 in (unknown) undiscovered condition, serial No. unknown

– SG-41 Z Nr. 2 in (unknown) undiscovered condition, serial No. unknown

– SG-41 Z Nr. 3 (roughly) rough cleaned, fragmented, serial No.000845 CXO 44

– SG-41 Z Nr. 4 (roughly) rough cleaned, fragmented, serial No.000903 CXO 44

– SG-41 Z Nr. 5, (roughly) rough cleaned, fragmented, serial No. unknown, only partially preserved

– Two SG-41 equipment maintenance instructions, (these are) original documents, (not copies) no copies

– A (large) big number of SG-41 Z spare parts.

With the existing parts of the machine 3, 4 and 5 it is (should be) possible to rebuild a complete and well-preserved SG-41 Z.

Only the metal case and cipher wheels would be missing then. These would have to be (located elsewhere or replicas built) rebuilt.

This exceptional collection of rare German cipher machines is being offered to collectors, restoration specialists, and museums. This collection likely represents the largest single holding of SG-41 cipher machines known to exist.

Price: $27,500 USD plus shipping from Europe.

Note: Enigma Museum is representing the seller of this unique collection and does not have an opinion as to the efforts that would be required to restore an SG-41Z from this collection.