abstract:Heath Robinson was a machine used by British codebreakers at the Government Code and Cypher School (GC&CS) at Bletchley Park during World War II in Cryptanalysis of the Lorenz cipher. This achieved the decryption of messages in the German teleprinter cipher produced by the Lorenz SZ40/42 in-line cipher machine.
Otherwise several devices of a HeathRobinson nature are suggested boards to deflect the trajectory of urine and droppings, flashing lights, ultra-sound, unpleasant smells, stuffed owls, rustling aluminium foil and helium-filled balloons.
And opposite a particularly HeathRobinson piece of machinery, complete with foot-long levers and dials like the engine room of the Titanic, I spot an old circuit diagram on the wall, mapping out each of Britain's national newspapers.