What happens to those who pry into things which are actually none of their business? I guess the answer depends on how well the person is prepared for all the consequences of their curiosity and how skillful the person is in the matters of hiding and covering tracks. They say that “curiosity killed the cat”. And when you watch American horror movies you can always see that people’s curiosity always spills into something really horrible. However nothing is impossible for those, who consider other people’s business their job. I’m talking about professional spies, whose lives may depend on what you ate for breakfast today. Espionage exists for many centuries and in order to do their job flawlessly spies have always needed some secret devices. And today I’d like to share with you the most interesting spy gadgets of different times.
Jefferson disk (1795)
Thomas Jefferson, the inventor of this device, called it “wheel cypher”. It is also known as Bazeries Cylinder. As you may guess this spy gadget was designed in order to encipher messages. It consists of 36 disks with 26 letters on the edge of each. The order of the letters is different for each disk and each disk has a different number. Disks can be removed and their order is the cipher key. This system was used by the US Army in 1923-1942 as the M-94.
Lipstick pistol (1965)
All the girls, wishing to become a James Bond’s girlfriend will definitely appreciate this innocent from the outside and deathly inside spy gadget. This 4,5 mm single-shot weapon was used by KGB during Cold War. Just like usual lipsticks this device was designed for a kiss, but unlike others, this time it will be a kiss of death.
Bulgarian umbrella (1978)
Do you remember “The Umbrella Coup” movie with Pierre Richard starring? If you do I’m sure you remember that umbrella with a tiny pellet filled with poison (ricin). This spy gadget was allegedly used by KGB to assassinate the Bulgarian dissident writer Georgi Markov on September 7, 1978 and in the failed assassination attempt against the Bulgarian dissident journalist Vladimir Kostov the same year. The umbrella has a hollow stalk with a pellet inside of it.
Covert earpiece (our days)
Invisible earpiece spy gadgets were designed to provide their owner with secret communication wherever they are and whatever they do. A wireless covert earpiece in the ear and a Bluetooth transmitter will let you secretly make a call to your helper and communicate staying absolutely unnoticed. Extra small in size (0,35*0,17*0,17 inches) the earpiece is easily hidden in your ear and has a sound of great quality. For sure this device is indispensable during secret missions and you can see it in such movies as The Tourist and Casino Royal.
Read more about covert earpiece spy gadgets here.
