333 - Protona / Telefunken / Hanhart - The Spy Who Came In from the Cold

Protona / Telefunken / Hanhart - The Spy Who Came In from the Cold A rare espionage set consisting of an early crystal microphone disguised as a wrist-chronograph, plus four pocket-size Minifon sound-recording devices with countless accessories and operating manuals Dimensions 39 mm, circa 1955-1965, Origin Deutschland, Accessories Case: Base metal, plated. Dial: Silvered. Movm.: Not tested. The Hanhart espionage set (often referred to as the Hanhart spy watch) is a legendary piece of surveillance technology from the Cold War era. It is a highly sensitive microphone deceptively disguised as a classic Hanhart wrist chronograph and used in the 1950s in combination with the Protona Minifon - one of the earliest portable wire-recording devices. The supposed wristwatch contains no mechanical movement. The hands are fixed in place, and the crown and pushers have no function, as all available space inside the case was needed for the microphone system. Inside the “wrist chronograph” case sits a highly sensitive crystal microphone. The case back is perforated with fine holes to optimize sound capture. A rubber-coated cable exits discreetly at 9 o’clock; agents routed this cable through their sleeve to the actual recording device (the Minifon), which was worn concealed on the body or carried in a pocket. The set was used worldwide by intelligence agencies such as the CIA as well as by police departments for covert investigations and evidence gathering. Today, it is an extremely rare and highly sought-after collector’s item. It is unique in its completeness. Case: very good, worn. Dial: very good. Please note that leather straps made from endangered or protected species - such as alligator, crocodile, or lizard - are used in our catalogue or on our website for illustration purposes only. For customs-related reasons, such straps cannot be shipped outside the EU.