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This article made me wonder what had happened to the stolen one... it was returned, after all.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/tvs-paxman-sent-stolen-enigma-machine-634351.html

Well - first we have doubt about Tesla's surviving to become a museum, and now this. However it goes for BP - and I do hope that it can be saved as a museum, here's a little reminder of a site that many /.ers know about - http://www.xat.nl/enigma-e/index.htm

The spirit of the machine will continue to thrive, it seems. I hope the same is true of BP, where Turing & company changed things for so many.

For cryptography, the story of the German Enigma machine in WWII can't be beat.

Plus, there is an electronic kit available (info at http://www.xat.nl/enigma-e/) and they can be purchased at the Bletchley Park museum shop (http://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/shop/index.rhtm/133066/cat.html) or http://www.jancorver.org/en/price/ (130 Euros). A mini kit is at http://www.apogeekits.com/enigma_cipher_machine.htm

The electronic kit is a fully functional electronic replication of how the Enigma machine operated and can code and decode original Enigma messages. They also have one wheel cardboard versions for much less.

A little off topic but for teaching, when you can relate the demonstration to real life, it's invaluable. Also, things like cryptography can capture boys and girls imagination.

http://www.xat.nl/enigma-e/ - is an electronic *simulation*. That is no where close to 'making your own'.

Here's a site where you can order a parts kit to build you own Enigma Machine.

In the first paragraph of the order page:
"Both addresses below do ship worldwide so ordering one shouldn't be a problem."

Enigma-E Order Page

If you want your own enigma to play with, there are simulators in many different languages and for many different platforms.

There are links to many downloadable simulations here, including an Abwehr Enigma sim for Windows. There even appears to be one written for Palm Pilot.