10 Mar
2003
10 Mar
'03
12:15 a.m.
Hmm... Doesn't think this is a computer, eh? Wonder what it *is* then? It
calculates, and provides a results of those calculations into some kind of
output -- usually on paper. Actually, there's an even older, wooden
computer that provided a visual output. What was it? (Is this OT? Both
units compute, and are over 10 years old...)
Ed Tillman
Store Automation Tech Support Specialist
Valero Energy Corporation
San Antonio, Texas, USA
Office: (210)592-3110, Fax (210)592-2048
Email: edward.tillman(a)valero.com <mailto:edward.tillman@valero.com>
-----Original Message-----
From: Joe [mailto:rigdonj@cfl.rr.com]
Sent: Friday, March 07, 2003 3:37 PM
To: cctalk(a)classiccmp.org
Subject: Re: possibly OT: Enigma Cypher machine on e-bay.
Damm! Now there's something that you don't see everyday!
Joe
At 04:45 PM 3/7/03 -0500, you wrote:
I don't think this is a computer but maybe someone
would be interested.
ENIGMA Cypher machine army model:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2162414185
10 Mar
10 Mar
11:28 a.m.
Hmm... Doesn't think this is a computer, eh?
Wonder what it *is* then? It
calculates, and provides a results of those calculations into some kind of
output -- usually on paper.
Calling an Enigma a computer is really stretching the definition. They
are incredibly simple machines - the internal circuitry consists of not
much more than a battery, wires, the wheels (fancy rotary switches,
basically), a plugboard, and a bunch of lightbulbs.
For a previous question - the number of Enigmas in private hands is well
over 100 units. They are really not all that rare, but the price ($20,000
is not unusual) is high because of the extreme demand.
It is the U.S. crypto gear that is truely rare...
William Donzelli
aw288(a)osfn.org
11:43 a.m.
> Hmm... Doesn't think this is a computer, eh?
Wonder what it *is* then? It
> calculates, and provides a results of those calculations into some kind of
> output -- usually on paper.
Calling an Enigma a computer is really stretching the
definition. They
are incredibly simple machines - the internal circuitry consists of not
much more than a battery, wires, the wheels (fancy rotary switches,
basically), a plugboard, and a bunch of lightbulbs.
Well, as far as it goes, a computer needs to be able to:
a) have a stored (changeable) programm
b) execute instructions conditionaly
c) do a loop
sometimes also cited:
d) a way for input/output
of these basics, the Enigma is only good for the first one,
since the wheels can be seen as the programm, and they where
changeable. None of the other two conditions are met, since
there is no loop and no conditional operations ... well, ok,
one may see the repetive execution of the ecryption programm
as a loop, but then the conditional execution is still missing.
Gruss
H.
--
VCF Europa 4.0 am 03./04. Mai 2003 in Muenchen
http://www.vcfe.org/
11:59 a.m.
There's a fellow here on the east coast that actually let me touch his
enigma. I hesitate to say "play with", no way I wanted to get into a
you-break-t-you-bought-it situation. I believe he's reachable at the
TCF and at www.w1tp.com
I think he had a $20K pricetag on it BTW
Here's a nice page about enigmas, Dayton and w1tp.
http://www.angelfire.com/tx/g5aqk/page8.html
John A.
5:07 p.m.
At 12:25 PM 3/10/03 -0500, William Donzelli wrote:
No, I think he means the Navaho Code Talkers. Its rare to find one from WWII
still in mint condition, and even rarer to convince one to stay in a display
case ;)
-Lawrence LeMay
It is the U.S. crypto gear that is truely rare...
Does that include my AN/UYK-20S and UYK-44s? I'd happily trade them for an Enigma
:-)
Joe
7975
days inactive
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5 comments
6 participants
participants (6)
-
allain＠panix.com -
aw288＠osfn.org -
Edward.Tillman＠valero.com -
Hans.Franke＠mch20.sbs.de -
lemay＠cs.umn.edu -
rigdonj＠cfl.rr.com