Re: Mystery BP Cryptanalytic Working Aid (Re: [BPARK] Mick Jagger and Enigma)

Martin Postranecky <mp-/[email protected]> Mon, 25 Jun 2012 16:23:50 +0100
Newsgroups gmane.science.cryptography.bletchley-park
Message-ID <[email protected]>
On Fri, 22 Jun 2012, Craig Heath wrote :
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> It seems to be a metal cylinder, about 15 inches long, mounted on a
> wooden base with knobs at each end for rotating it on its axis
> (perhaps a typewriter platen without the rubber covering they normally
> have).  There is a paper cylinder around that, with (I think) 26 rows
> of letters hand-inked in red.  There is a transparent, yellowed,
> perforated cylinder in turn around that (perhaps made of celluloid).
> Around that is another, transparent cylinder with 26 paper strips
> glued to it, with hand-inked blue letters.  All these cylinders are
> held in alignment using a spring loaded bar with rollers, of the type
> used to feed paper around a typewriter platen.


Hello Craig,

I have not seen this particular cylindrical 'aid' yet
( not having been to the SciMus exhibition ), but the pictures
reminds me of the 'Loga' cylindrical slide rule calculator, which
I saw on sale in Geneva only last week. It was bit bigger ( over
2 ft long ), but with similar detachable paper strips etc.

I wonder whether this 'aid' may have been based on this type of
cylindrical calculators ?

Looking forward to seeing the exhibition.

Cheers,
Martin

http://www.gilai.com/product_1164/Cylindrical-Slide-Rule-Calculator-By-Loga--Switzerland.

http://www.antiqbuyer.com/images/ARCHIVE_PICS/Office_archive/Calculation-W/LOGA-Sold/P3141602.JPG

http://www.antiqbuyer.com/All_Archives/SCIENTIFIC_ARCHIVES/sr_archive.htm