German Railway Enigma Cypher Machine 1940

Built by Heimsoeth & Rinke, numbered K438 on the base, with complete electrical wiring, three aluminium rotors number I-III and settable reflector (26 positions) all stamped with matching numbers K438, raised ‘QWERTZ’ keyboard with crackle black painted metal case, in unoriginal Panzerholz case made for a different model, the rotor wiring identifying this machine as the extremely rare ‘Railway Enigma’ model, believed to be the only identified example to date; included with this lot is a facsimile copy of the production order document from 18 January 1940 that further confirms the designation of this machine as a ‘Railway Enigma’. It orders that Enigma machines with serial numbers K432-441 be rewired to the Reichsbahn (Railway) wiring and then delivered to the headquarters of the Reichsbahn (Reichbahndirektion) in Berlin, B.BV.-Büro (Bahnbevollmächtigten – Railway authorisation office).