Heath Robinson (codebreaking machine)

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Heath Robinson was a machine used by British codebreakers at Bletchley Park during World War II to solve messages in a German teleprinter cipher, the Lorenz SZ40/42. It was the predecessor to the Colossus computer. It was dubbed "Heath Robinson" by the Wrens who operated it, after cartoonist William Heath Robinson.

The machine was designed by Max Newman, and construction began in January 1943. C. E. Wynn-Williams designed the electronic counters, and engineers at the Post Office Research Station engineered other parts of the machine. A prototype was operational by June 1943.

[edit] External links

• "The machine age comes to Fish code breaking", part of "The Colossus: its purpose and operation" by Tony Sale