The Cold War involved a high-stakes game with elements of espionage, deception, and rapid technological innovation. There were intelligence agencies like the CIA as well as the KGB that ended up developing numerous covert gadgets with the explicit intention being to outplay their enemies. Some of these gadgets included miniature cameras that could fit within lighters, as well as deadly umbrella gadgets. We’ll take a look at 15 of these real spy gadgets from the time of the Cold War.
1. Pigeon Camera
Intelligence agencies were big on experimenting with pigeons to carry specialized lightweight cameras to capture various aerial reconnaissance images. These cameras were specifically programmed to take automatic snapshots whenever the pigeons would fly over enemy territories.
2. Spy Ring
The spy ring was a small ring that included a hidden compartment containing a camera as well as a microphone for secret recordings.
3. Poison Dart Umbrella
The poison dart umbrella was famously used in assassinations and was able to fire off deadly fire poison-tipped darts.
4. False Bottom Briefcase
The false bottom briefcase was used by spies to covertly store documents as well as electronic surveillance equipment.
5. Lighter Camera
As much as is implied in the name, the lighter camera was meticulously embedded in a cigarette lighter and then used for ultra discreet photo-taking.
6. Mirror Glasses
The mirror glasses were specialized lenses that then allowed spies to be able to see behind them without ever turning their heads.
7. Camera Watch
The camera watch was a wristwatch that had a built-in camera that was able to covertly take photos. This made it an especially invaluable gadget during high stakes meetings with political figures.
8. Pen Camera
The pen camera was a miniature camera that was disguised as a writing pen and was distinctly useful for numerous intelligence-gathering efforts.
9. Shoe Bug
The shoe bug was a covert microphone as well as a transmitter that was embedded within a shoe for the sake of recording various conversations.
10. Dead Drop Spike
The dead drop spike was a hollowed out metal spike that was used to both hide as well as transfer various classified documents underground.
11. Cyanide Glasses
Cyanide glasses were eye that were specialized for wartime and contained actual cyanide pills for spies to commit suicide if they were ever captured.
12. Button Camera
The button camera was a miniature surveillance camera that was covertly packaged within a coat button for the explicit purpose of covert filming missions.
13. Microdot Camera
The microdot camera was used in order to reduce whole pages of text into a miniature dot, thereby making various documents that much easier to smuggle.
14. Belly Buster Sabotage Device
The belly buster sabotage gadget was a hidden explosive device that was used in various sabotage missions during the Cold War.
15. Radio Receiver in a Belt Buckle
The radio receiver within a belt buckle was designed to allow spies to secretly receive numerous coded messages.
