Enigma code-breaking machine rebuilt at Cambridge

LogicRiver | 68 points

A rebuilt and operational Bombe---the machine Alan Turing worked on---is also on display at the Bletchley Park museum. https://www.bombe.org.uk

Several years ago I contacted the rebuild team inquiring about getting mechanical drawings of the bombe. They told me there are about 4,000 original drawings in the GCHQ archives that require special permission to access, and the team redrew about 2,500 of these in AutoCAD to create the reconstruction.

Unfortunately they don't share their files ("the property of the Bombe Rebuild Project team and are not made generally available"). I respect the enormity of the effort, but I wish they were willing to share it beyond a single replica in a museum an hour outside of London. I assume that one does not embark on such a project because it is lucrative.

rgovostes | 4 years ago

Here is an interesting video by Numberphile on the Enigma machine, for anyone curious on the details of its inner workings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2_Q9FoD-oQ

Nuzzerino | 4 years ago

Thankful to Alan Turing for creating the Turing machine which compilers and this computers rely on. Thankful for Alan Turing breaking the German Enigma crypto together with the Polish crypto breakers so the west could listen to Nazi War communication and we got rid of them winning the war. Alan Turing was gay and was not treated well by the UK government something the UK government later made an apology for. Also grateful to the Russian WWII effort wish I could have seen the 75th year memory victory parade this year. Thanks to all Americans Soldiers for saving us.

Grateful that the crypto Enigma breaker has been rebuilt.

acd | 4 years ago