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By the 1920s, the British Government were seeking a replacement for their book code systems, which had been shown to be insecure, and which proved to be slow and awkward to use in practice.

In 1926, an inter-departmental committee was formed to consider whether they could be replaced with cipher machines.

Over a period of several years and at large expense, the committee investigated a number of options but no proposal was decided upon.

One suggestion was put forward by Wing Commander O. G. W. Lywood to adapt the commercial Enigma, adding a printing unit, but the committee decided against pursuing Lywood's proposal.