Jules Richardson wrote:
>
> Actually flat-out the Colossus reader can manage around 8000 chars/sec
> IIRC. I'm sure that Cliff (one of the other guys who looks after the
> Colossus rebuild) has mentioned to me before that they've had problems
> with the tape wearing the metal pulleys on the tape frame before with
> those kinds of speeds.
>
> They seem to be letting the public stand in the H Block machine room
> itself at the moment (rather than previously whereby the public were
> kept in a windowed viewing room) so it's a good time to go and see the
> rebuilt Colossus running.
I went to Bletchley for the first time on Wednesday. Tony Sale was there
and he let us into the machine room. It was fascinating to be stood
right next to Colossus's "bedstead" as the tape whirred around at 30
miles per hour, and to see the blinkenlights and valves.
I bought my cheap return ticket, so I'll make the next trip on a
Saturday to see the Retrobeep collection. (Sorry, I've been repeating
that name to myself in an effort to get used to it, and it _still_ sucks!)
--
Paul
Received on Fri Aug 13 2004 - 18:21:38 BST