...for PoWs. Interesting, but not really 'new'. "A rare World War Two book documenting the ingenious James Bond-style gadgets invented by British intelligence to help prisoners of war escape has been discovered. The 1942 classified catalogue contains the top secret designs for the covert equipment that includes tiny compasses concealed in gold teeth and coat buttons. Many of the inventions were the brainchild of Christopher Hutton - a real-life ‘Q’ - who worked for the government’s little-known MI9 agency. Fewer than 100 of the instruction manuals were printed and given to US intelligence officers who were way behind the British in espionage design after entering the war late. The 76-page book details what the gadgets were and how they were made and concealed in innocuous domestic items. The gadgets were placed in food parcels and sent to British PoWs in camps such as Colditz or the ‘Great Escape’ prison, Stalag Luft III. Some of the fascinating gadgets include maps of Germany printed on silk, so that they didn’t rustle, which could be crammed inside pencils, vinyl records, cigars and pipes." Spy gadgets made by real-life Q revealed in rare 1942 book to help British PoWs escape | Mail Online
Thanks for posting that article, Gordon. No doubt, it was meant to coincide with the release of the new Bond film. Even the news media use marketing. Reminds me of the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. I was there several years ago. Pretty interesting stuff there.
Hogans Heroes/Get Smart had the best stuff. Always loved the radio transmitter in the tea pot....And gotta admit, shoe phone was way ahead of it's time....And the agent 99 real doll robot?..Years ahead of it's time.
