I have got back from seeing a working replica of the world’s first digital, programmable (partially) and electronic computer built in 1944 to break German naval codes during World War II.

[Linked Image from homepage.ntlworld.com]
The 1944 original

[Linked Image from homepage.ntlworld.com]
The rebuild

It’s located at Bletchley Park in the UK where the the original code-breaking was undertaken. A facinating place and a recommended visit for those that find themselves on this side of The Pond. The computer was called the Colossus and contained 1500 electronic valves. Its data drive was 40 foot (12 metres) of punched tape and its output, an old teleprinter – quite facinating to see and noisy too.


[This message has been edited by Hutch (edited 08-30-2006).]