The Cipher Key is used to Code and Decode messages
The alphabet on the largest outer wheel is Plain Text. That is text that can be read
The letters and numbers on the middle and smallest wheel are Cipher Text (coded text)
The wheels are used to change the Plain Text letters to other letters and numbers
The Cipher text letters and numbers are then used to write a secret message
The Cipher Key wheel is used to write and decode a secret message from Plain Text to Cipher Text and back
First, line the wheels up in any way, so that the A on the largest wheel matches up to any other letter other than A on the center wheel, and any number other than 1 on the small wheel
For example, line it up so the outer A matches to C on the middle wheel and to 7 on the small wheel
Now the wheel shows A=C=7
All other letters will now be properly lined up
To write a secret message, such as HELLO, you would find the letters HELLO on the largest wheel, and right down either the letter from the middle wheel, or the number from the smallest wheel, for each letter in the word HELLO
This Cipher Key Wheel allows for double encryption. You can change the Plain text letter to a different letter, or different number, or a different letter which then changes to a number
To decode a message, you need to know the key, such as A=C=7, line the wheel up that way. Then look at each letter or number in the coded text, and match that to the outer wheel letter, and that is you plain text letter.
