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R-353 Proton Burst Encoder and Tape Cartridge

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:NA Estimated At:400.00 - 600.00 USD
R-353 Proton Burst Encoder and Tape Cartridge

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Auction Date:2023 May 18 @ 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
R-353 Proton burst encoder and magnetic tape cassette, introduced in the Soviet Union in 1969 as part of the R-353 spy radio set. The burst encoder measures approximately 4" x 3" x 1.5", and features a central black number dial similar to a rotary phone. Using a stylus stored inside the lid to rotate the dial, a message would be encoded onto magnetic tape. The tape cartridge measures 4" x 2" x 1" and has two small fold-out cranks for winding the tape on its internal spools. Both pieces are painted in the original green/blue hammerite paint, one of two colors used for the R-353 Proton spy radio set. Both include their canvas transport bags.

Once encoded, the tape cartridge would be loaded onto an R-353 transmitter, which would broadcast the Morse code message at a very high speed (typically 250 WPM) in order to avoid interception and radio direction finding (RDF). The tape cartridge, with a pre-coded message, could also be placed as a dead drop—eliminating any possibility of exposing an agent through RDF.