TheCodeBreakers
its time, and so much in the spirit of the later inventions, that it deserves
to be classed with them. Indeed, it deserves the front rank among them,
for this system was beyond doubt the most remarkable of all. So well
conceived was it that today, more than a century and a half of rapid
technological progress after its invention, it remains in active use.
But then it was invented by a remarkable man, a well-known writer,
agriculturalist, bibliophile, architect, diplomat, gadgeteer, and statesman
named Thomas Jefferson. He called it his "wheel cypher," and it seems
likely that he invented it either during 1790 to 1793 or during 1797 to
1800.
Turn a cylinder of white wood of about 2. Inches diameter & 6.
or 8. I. long, bore through it's center a hole sufficient to receive an
iron spindle or axis of Vs or 1A I. diam. divide the periphery into
26. equal parts (for the 26. letters of the alphabet) and, with a
annaabi.ee 
