Collection policy - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

25 May 2003

  "TeoZ" wrote:
...
   Like I said before museums have static displays for
reasons of 
 power requirements, lack of personnel that can run the machines, 
 spare parts that are expensive and hard to find, and the fact 
 that a screwup during operation could actually destroy one of 
 the few remaining examples (or only one). Most devices in a 
 museum are there for either art or function (or combination). 
  And then some museums don't.
  There are many techniques to avoid static displays.
  * Rotating the equipment on a turntable with the back open.
  * Recreating really old equipment or high wear parts.
  * Equipment displays with interactive java simulation of
    the equipment running nearby.
  * Faking the output display on unpowered equipment with
    the 'PC behind the curtain'.
  * Or just using equipment that is still some what available.
  And don't forget the importance of the the right lighting
and sound effects. :)

  I am currently trying to help a gentleman restore 
a EAI TR-48 desktop analog, from the early 60s, on 
display in the Retro Beep Computer Museum at Bletchley 
Park. He wants to run a repetitive simulation for 
visitors to see.

  I asked him if the recreated Colossus is actually
operated for vistors to the museum. He replied:
...
    The Colossus is running for the visitors to see;  
 however, there is not a guided viewing with everything
 explained and messages decoded etc.  You can see the
 paper tape loop flying round the bedstead and there 
 is an oscilloscope for the visitors to see the read 
 in bit sequence.  Also, the machine is behind a wall 
 with windows because all the frames are open +/- 100 
 volts DC and thus not safe for the public to directly 
 approach.   Also, there are various items for everyone
 to read on display to explain things. 
   There is a guided tour of the site with explanations 
 of the code breaking centres;  the Colossus bit is 
 unguided. 
 I also asked about interactive displays. He reply:
...
    You get to play with the enigma machine I think and

 there is a bit of code breaking you can do. 
  Also, in the Retro beep museum, there are several old 
 digital personal machines to play with; including Sinclair 
 spectrums, BBC computers etc ? not very exciting for an 
 engineer but the kids love them.  Also there is a rare 
 Apple Lisa with original disc system.  As well as the 
 Elliott 803 there are a couple of DEC machine, one of 
 them being an old original (with front doors made from
 kitchen worktops ? as specified by DEC?s founder). 
  He also sent me links to some wonderful interactive
web pages, including the 'Virtual Turing Bombe', the
'Virtual 3 wheel Naval Enigma', the 'Virtual 3 wheel 
Army/Air Force Enigma' and the 'Virtual Colossus'.

ENIGMA, BOMBE, and COLOSSUS Links

Codes and Ciphers  in the  Second World War
http://www.codesandciphers.org.uk/
Great link on the Enigma code, the Turing Bombe, and on the Colossus

Click on
Tony Sale's reconstruction of Enigma decipherment for the film Enigma

or go directly to this page
http://www.codesandciphers.org.uk/enigmafilm/index.htm
Making the Enigma ciphers for the film  "Enigma"
  by Tony Sale

Or if you don't want to go through the explaination of the Enigma
code and how it was broken,
you can go directly to these interactive web pages

http://www.codesandciphers.org.uk/enigmafilm/bombe/bombe1.htm
Virtual Turing Bombe by Tony Sale

http://www.codesandciphers.org.uk/enigmafilm/emachines/enigman.htm
Virtual 3 wheel Naval Enigma by Tony Sale

http://www.codesandciphers.org.uk/enigmafilm/emachines/enigma1.htm
Virtual 3 wheel Army/Air Force Enigma by Tony Sale

Or try 
http://www.codesandciphers.org.uk/lorenz/rebuild.htm
The Colossus Rebuild Project
which links to 

http://www.codesandciphers.org.uk/virtualbp/fish/vcolossus.htm
Virtual Colossus by Tony Sale

And the Bombe Rebuild Project
http://www.jharper.demon.co.uk/bombe1.htm
  --Doug
=========================================
Doug Coward                
@ home in Poulsbo, WA

Analog Computer Online Museum and History Center
http://dcoward.best.vwh.net/analog
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