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

Thanks Martin, that's interesting, it does have certain similarities (
http://www.gilai.com/product_1164/Cylindrical-Slide-Rule-Calculator-By-Loga--Switzerland
).  I notice that the cylindrical cursor on that moves left and right
as well as around the central cylinder; the feed rollers on the
mystery device make me think that wasn't intended to go left and
right, but it is a possibility.

I'm off to the Science Museum again this afternoon with a decent
camera, so I'll put up better pictures soon.  If we can figure out
what the letter sequences represent, that should be a big help in
understanding its operation.

Cheers!

- Craig.

On 25 June 2012 16:23, Martin Postranecky <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> On Fri, 22 Jun 2012, Craig Heath wrote :
> ----------------------------------------
>> 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