Editing Secret decoder ring (section)

==History==
Secret decoders are generally circular scales, descendants of the [[cipher disk]] developed in the 15th century by [[Leon Battista Alberti]]. Rather than the complex polyalphabetic [[Alberti cipher]] method, the decoders for children invariably use simple [[Caesar cipher]] substitutions.

The most well-known example started in 1934 with the [[Ovaltine]] company's sponsored radio program ''[[Little Orphan Annie (radio)|Little Orphan Annie]]''.<ref name=cm>[http://www.mwotrc.com/rr2005_08/decoders.htm CAPTAIN MIDNIGHT AND DECODER RINGS], Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.</ref> The show's fan club, "Radio Orphan Annie's Secret Society", distributed a member's handbook that included a simple substitution cipher with a resulting numeric cipher text. This was followed the next year with a membership pin that included a cipher disk—enciphering the letters A–Z to numbers 1–26. From 1935 to 1940, metal decoders were produced for the promotion. From 1941 on, paper decoders were produced. Similar metal badges and pocket decoders continued with the ''[[Captain Midnight]]'' radio and television programs.

None of these early decoders were in the form of [[Ring (jewelry)|finger rings]]; however, "secret compartment" rings were common radio program premiums.<ref name=cm/> In the early 1960s, secret decoder rings appeared—notably in conjunction with the ''[[Jonny Quest (TV series)|Jonny Quest]]'' television program sponsored by [[PF Flyers|PF Shoes]]. A later, less ornate, decoder ring was offered by Kix Cereals.<ref>[http://home.comcast.net/~jrolsen2/premiums/ovaltine.html The Ovaltine "Secret Decoder Ring"], John Olsen</ref>

Today, high quality, stainless steel decoder rings for children and adults are being produced by companies such as Retroworks<ref>{{Cite web |title=Retroworks - Secret Decoder Rings |url=https://shopretroworks.com/ |publisher=shopretroworks.com}}</ref> and [[ThinkGeek]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cloninger |first=Janet |date=15 March 2011 |title=Encode Your Messages with the ThinkGeek Secret Decoder Ring |url=https://the-gadgeteer.com/2011/03/15/encode-your-messages-with-the-thinkgeek-secret-decoder-ring/ |publisher=The Gadgeteer |access-date=8 September 2022}}</ref>