Early Days in H Block
Early Days
During 1994 the 'bedstead' for the tape pulley system, and some of the equipment racking was assembled in H Block.



Photo taken through the viewing window: The 'bedstead' for Colossus (Rebuild) is assembled © LSA Oct 1994. In the background, Tony Sale discusses the progress with a colleague.
| EXIT | Colossus Rebuild | Early Days |

Introduction

In 1989 as a Senior Curator for Computer Restoration Projects at the Science Museum, Tony Sale already had a knowledgeable background in early types of computers. He became a founder member of the Computer Conservation Society, which was formed on 13th September.

By 1992 Tony's lectures about code breaking in Bletchley Park were beginning to generate interest in setting up a trust and rebuilding Colossus.

From 1993 the beginnings of a computer museum were set up in Faulkner House, Bletchley Park.

On 18th July 1994 HRH The Duke of Kent formally opened the Bletchley Park Museums and inaugurated the Colossus (Mark 1) Rebuild Project.

In the Autumn of 1994, 'RESURRECTION' The Bulletin of the Computer Conservation Society reported:

"In the centre of the floor is a pile of steel channel sections and angle iron ready to be cut up, drilled, painted and assembled for the racks of the machine. There are some beechwood strips carrying link sockets, identical to those used in Colossus, and rescued from old Strowger rural telephone exchanges which are being replaced with digital electronic exchanges. The last of those exchanges will be scrapped in 1995, which shows how perilously near to too late is the rebuild project now."


 Early Days
Early days in H Block
Early days in Block H.
At this stage of the rebuild, public entry was not allowed.



Photo taken through the viewing window: The 'bedstead' for Colossus (Rebuild) is assembled © LSA Oct 1994.
Viewing window
Early days in Block H.

Many rooms were locked and only had 'viewing windows' to show off the exhibits.



Photo: GPO receiving equipment © LSA Oct 1994.
Intercepting Messages
The Cryptology Trail led visitors, room by room, through the code-breaking processes and this early photo demonstrates how the Trust created atmosphere with its displays.



Photo: Intercepting Messages © LSA Oct 1994.
Design, images and text compiled by © Light-Straw. Page last updated August 2015 revision. Checked May 2021.

All logos and trade marks are the property of their respective owners and are used on the Light Straw site(s) for review only. Students and researchers are recommended to make their own independent enquiries as to the accuracy of the information contained therein.