| The Turing
Bombe Rebuild Exhibition |
"This electromechanical counting machine was designed to eliminate
variables at high speed. Its action was described as machines that
go on ticking until they reach a combination that will cause them to produce
an output; hence bombe."
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The Turing Bombe Rebuild Project in B Block is a fascinating
achievement.
Photos: LSA 2007
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| | EXIT
| The Bombe Exhibition | PETARD | |
| The Bombe
Exhibition
The photos below were taken in July 2007 at the Bombe Exhibition in B
Block, Bletchley Park:
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One whole section of the machine is hinged to allow access to the many
relays, capacitors, resistors and the many miles of wiring.
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One end of the unit showing the power intake section and yet more red
wiring.
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An end-on view of the hinged section reveals the complexity of the unit,
of a very compact design, which helps to reduce the length of the wiring
runs.
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This display case shows off the many machined parts which are vital to
the bombe's function.
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| PETARD |
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Before the Bombe Rebuild Team made large numbers of mechanical parts,
a test assembly needed to be constructed. This covered all the main parts
of the machine, but it was only necessary to make four Letchworth Enigmas
driven by shortened vertical and horizontal shafts and one carry cam assembly
to achieve this. This unit is capable of demonstrating the full Bombe mechanical
action albeit at one third speed.
The plan is that when resources become available, this unit will be completed
with commutators and a lubrication system etc.. Following this power supply
will be added and electric and electronic units developed to turn this whole
unit into a permanent working demonstration unit.
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The team chose the name Petard because this is another name for a type
of small Bomb(e). It is also the name HMS Petard that was instrumental in
capturing vital German Enigma material.
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Compiled by Light-Straw
© 1997-2007 |
This site
is dedicated to Margaret Davies who, during the war, worked on a lathe at
BTM Letchworth making components for the Bombes. |