World's oldest digital computer finally brought back to life in a 'reboot camp'

This ramshackle collection of valves, buttons and wires is the world's oldest original digital computer. And it's back in business.

Volunteers restored the computer over three years, reassembling its 50 pieces (Picture: Geoff Robinson Photography)

The machine was first used at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment in Oxfordshire (Picture: Geoff Robinson Photography)

The Harwell Dekatron, which was built in 1951, has been fired up after lying in storage for 20 years.

Volunteers restored it over three years, reassembling its 50 pieces.

'It's great to see it working again,' said Kevin Murrell, of the National Museum of Computing in Buckinghamshire, where the computer has been put on show.

'To see it in action is to watch the inner workings of a computer ' something that is impossible on the machines of today.'

Delwyn Holroyd, who led the team, said: 'The restoration was quite a challenge, requiring work with components like valves, relays and paper tape readers that are rarely seen  these days.'

The machine was first used at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment in Oxfordshire, and later in computer lessons at Wolverhampton and Staffordshire Technical College where it was renamed Witch.

It then went on display at the former  Birmingham Museum of Science and Industry, where Mr Murrell traced it after spotting it in a photograph.