[Nottingham] [Visit] 10am to 2:30pm, Sunday 21/042019: TNMoC and Electrojumble!

[Martin]

Folks,

As a follow-on, and something that the Bletchley Park side of the fence
will emphasise more, is the world of people and connections and secrecy
surrounding the code-breaking machines that reside at TNMoC.


Here is a very personal insight to one segment of that world, both
during the war and afterwards:

Professor Brailsford - Computerphile:

Enigma, TypeX and Dad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvKdOEHkrJc


Enjoy for how one part of the war was won.

Cheers,
Martin


On 23/04/2019 16:43, Martin via Nottingham wrote:
> Folks,
> 
> And so, a small happy band of NLUG didst gather and with a very
> eco-friendly carshare didst adventure into a beautifully bright and
> sunny morning to explore... TNMoC http://www.tnmoc.org/
> 
> 
> Since my last visit a few years ago, TNMoC has been nicely tidied up and
> spruced up. The "Block H" site gives a fabulous view of the
> semi-automated codebreaking developed for Bletchley Park and the story
> of the people behind that world leading and war-winning work. As a grand
> bonus, they have recreated or rejuvenated some the iconic developments
> of the early days of electronic and electromechanical computers.
> 
> They also have a large area that is home to an old ICL mainframe and
> various old business computers. They have TWO Cray supercomputers! A
> Transputer system bravely shows it's iconic TV demo of years ago. They
> also have an Air Traffic Control demo in another room. And there's a
> couple of rooms of retro home computers with more games than I remember!
> 
> Even better, most of that lot are live and working!
> 
> And all enthusiastically explained and guided by very knowledgeable
> volunteers!!
> 
> Excellent! :-)
> 
> So yep, we were in there for the day until gently thrown out after
> closing time :-)
> 
> 
> We all bagged various bits at the junk sale or in the shop.
> 
> Boris got to be talking in disbelief to the senior engineer who looks
> after the Colossus - and charmed up a real live old thermionic valve!
> 
> (One now to auction for your retirement? ;-) ;-) )
> 
> We also got an enthusiastic story for a rather large ceramic valve on
> display there that is of great weight (half-inch copper pipes for wires,
> more pipes for water/vapour cooling, special lifting gear needed) and
> stupendous high power that transmitted radio signals worldwide...
> 
> We then finished off with food and a drink at a nearby pub overlooking
> an idyllic view across a lake and grounds into a picturesque sunset.
> 
> 
> In short, an excellent day for a fabulous place.
> 
> Definitely a Geeks-Must-Visit :-)
> 
> We'll leave the actors next door at the 'theme park' until some other
> time...
> 
> 
> All good geekie fun!
> 
> So... Where next?!
> 
> Cheers,
> Martin
> 
> 
> 
> On 16/04/2019 18:34, Martin via Nottingham wrote:
>> Folks,
>>
>> For those not already fully booked up this Easter, there is down the
>> road at *The National Museum of Computing* :
>>
>>
>> Electrojumble!
>> http://www.tnmoc.org/news/upcoming-events/electrojumble
>>
>> #####
>> The National Museum of Computing (www.tnmoc.org) on Bletchley Park will
>> be holding its first-ever ElectroJumble on Sunday 21 April 2019.
>>
>> Over the years, the museum has accumulated many pieces of electronic
>> apparatus and components...
>> #####
>>
>>
>> Also a very good excuse to visit the new old stuff that they have got
>> working. And also to see the resited Bombe that they retrieved from over
>> the 'Brexit' barbed wire fence from next door.
>>
>> (Quite a bit of a different spin on "Can we have our ball back?"!)
>>
>> Is it really so many years since our last visit??!...
>>
>> They have a fair few bits to show off:
>> http://www.tnmoc.org/explore
>> http://www.tnmoc.org/special-projects
[---]