Good news for Bletchley Park

[centurian]

I thought Babbage started to build an original, but didn't finish it or get it working for some reason.

That would be the Analytical Engine (more programmable than the Difference Engine), of which he attempted to build a simplified version - his son attempted to complete it - this is also on display at the Science Museum.

Both the Difference Engine and Analytical Engine were viable and would have worked, and could have been built with the materials/technology of the time. It was pure hard cash (or lack of) that prevented either from being built.

[RichardCranium]

I thought the Bletchley Park museum was quite interesting but I was a bit disappointed by the computer museum. The contents were interesting enough but I got told off for looking around without a guide and because the next tour wasn't for another hour I didn't get to see it all.

That's when you pull out your BCS membership card and say "It's OK, I'm in the restoration specialist group" or some such bulltulip and then they take you behind the scenes.

Membership does have its uses. (With a little bulltulip.)

My BBC staff id card got me into loads of places for free. "I'm with the production team dahling; where are we leaving our cars? Thankyousomuch."

[NickFitz]

My BBC staff id card got me into loads of places for free. "I'm with the production team dahling; where are we leaving our cars? Thankyousomuch."

It never occurred to me to blag anything with it when I had one - I thought wandering around the Blue Peter garden after lunch in the restaurant above CBBC's offices was the height of enjoyment at TV Centre