COMPUTER CONSERVATION SOCIETY & BLETCHLEY PARK TRUST
The
Computer
Conservation
Society
Our Rebuild Project has the benefit of being supported by both the Bletchley Park Trust Ltd. and the C.C.S.
The C.C.S is the body behind the Rebuild with the Bletchley Park Trust providing the space and any other facilities that we might need at Bletchley. The funding of the Bombe Rebuild is controlled through the C.C.S and is kept entirely separate from Bletchley Park and for that matter any other Rebuild Project.
The C.C.S was initially supported jointly as a Sub Group of the British Computer Society and by the Science Museum. Now it also receives considerable support from The Museum of Science & Industry in Manchester
The C.C.S. has been very much involved in the Rebuild of the Ferranti "Baby", properly known as the Small-Scale Experimental Machine (SSEM) of June 1948. This became the Manchester Mark 1 a year later in 1949. That in turn became the prototype for the Ferranti Mark 1. The "Baby" was the world's First Stored Program Computer.
1998 saw the official switch on of this rebuild exactly 50 years after the original first operated.
Chris Burton was the main driving force behind this project. He is a founder member of the C.C.S. and sits on the committee, which I now have honour of joining.
VISIT BLETCHLEY PARK
If anybody feels that they would like to look at the rebuild currently in 'B' block, then why not visit Bletchley? For up to date details go to
We now have on display a range of wall panels which explain some of the History surrounding the Building of the Bombes at Letchworth by the British Tabulator Machine Company, (BTM). As most readers will know BTM, was originally tied in with IBM, but later became ICT then ICL then Fujitsu. As explained elsewhere the project name used for the Bombes in Letchworth was Cantab. As most people making the Bombes were only told what they needed to know, they would not have heard the word Bombe used until after the war and maybe not even then.
The Bombe Mock-Ups produced for the filming of Robert Harris's novel 'Enigma' were delivered to Bletchley Park and examples are on display in the Bombe Hut. For more see 'Filming'
There is far more to see than just the Bombe at Bletchley Park, which is of great interest. You should not be disappointed.
Other changes are likely to take place as time goes on. Please check on the Bletchley Park WEB site at