No this not the famous German 'Enigma Machine', although by it's looks it could have been a precursor. It does play on the same notion of encryption and deciphering. The machine comes with a working crank and rotating reading lens. A removable glass dome with a removable bulb and codex tube. I also added a messenger tube for getting it to the folks on the other end of the secret. I like when a machine can tell a story, but how cool is it when one inspires a story.