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Cold War German RT-3 Burst Encoder

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:600.00 - 800.00 USD
Cold War German RT-3 Burst Encoder

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Auction Date:2020 Jul 16 @ 18:00 (UTC-05:00 : EST/CDT)
Location:15th Floor WeWork, Boston, Massachusetts, 02108, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Circa 1958 Cold War–era clandestine RT-3 electromechanical burst encoder, developed by Wandel & Goltermann for the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND). The device measures 4.25˝ x 3.5˝ x 1.5˝, and is marked on the case with serial number "RT3 9501." The heavy-duty case has a spring-loaded panel that opens to reveal the mechanical memory cylinder, which rotates to reveal 25 horizontal bars, each with a tab moveable to ten positions. The cylinder crank is stored in a cleverly milled-out cavity in the bottom of the unit. A user could load 25 characters into this mechanical memory, and the unit would transmit them at high speed in Morse code, which made interception and direction-finding very difficult. In very good to fine condition. Accompanied by a modern operating manual detailing the history and function of the RT-3.