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INFO WHEELS

Cryptologia, Apr 2004 by Kruh, Louis

INFO WHEELS Helfand, Jessica. Reinventing the Wheel. Princeton Architectural Press, 37 E 7th Street, New York USA NY 10003. 2002. 158 pp. $24.95.

This unusually interesting book is about information wheels or volvelles (ancient Latin meaning to turn), referring to a calculation device consisting of concentric movable dials. These have been used since the 14th century to calculate everything from time and space to military matters and recipes. Helfand includes more than 150 color photographs of different wheels or volvelles.

More Articles of Interest: BRAIN SIZZLERS; CLEVER CODING DEVICES; CRYPTO UNSPOOKED; KNOW THINE ENEMY; MORE MODERN CRYPTOGRAPHY

In her introductory essay, "Rotation, A Brief history of the Wheel," Helfand provides an overview of classical volvelles including a group of five Cryptographic Wheels dated 1647. Peter Apian published Astronomicum Caesareum, his magnum opus in 1540, probably the most magnificent book on astronomy ever published. Twenty-one of its thirty six pages contain volvelles that include as many as six rotatable dials.

"Circular Ephemera & the New Century" include: 1914 Pocket Signal Disk, a two-sided Boy Scout Signal Disk shows five different codes and ciphers, from Semaphore and Morse Codes to the more unusual International Flag and Phonetic Alphabets;

U. S. Navy Semaphore Signaling Guide published in the 1940s by the Department of Navy Personnel instructs users on the proper method for sending and receiving semaphore signals;

Soviet Weapons Whiz Wheel, published in 1975 by U.S. Army Intelligence, offers dial-up data on 36 different Soviet and Warsaw Pact weapons systems;

WWII Enemy Airplane and Tank Spotters, published in 1942 by U. S. Federal Printing Office, is a series of identification wheels for German and Japanese aircraft and armored vehicles from Japan, Germany and Italy.

There are scores of other visually attractive and interesting topics including Astrology, Horoscopes, Tax Calculator, Math Wheel, Universal Calendar, First Aid Chart, Geography, United States, U. S. Presidents, George Washington, Spelling, Pets, Birds, Contract Bridge, Baseball Statistics, Citrus Calculators, Weather, and much more.

In "Speculations, Modern Revolutions," Helfand considers whether the future may bring changes and concludes, "... the formal and conceptual opportunities introduced by the circular form are as infinite as the spaces we seek to conquer."

This is an unusual and fascinating book that many people will enjoy.

INFO WHEELS

Cryptologia, Apr 2004 by Kruh, Louis

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