What is it? the reader's view

In the April edition of Electronic Engineering we offered our readers the challenge of identifying the piece of computer history shown here in figure 1 (left) and figure 2 (right). It provoked many responses. While we hope our readers were rising to the intellectual challenge, that in our view, best answered the questions: What is it? What was it used for? Who made it? and when and where, but maybe it was the offer of a bottle(s) of Champagne for the best submissions, that had something to do with the level of response. Below ave some of the responses, including the best three, who get the champagne, as well as the good trys. While the best three came close, none were perfect. The complete and accurate explanation will be published in the September edition of Electronic Engineering.