A History of Research in the Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Company, with photographs

Typescript history of the 'origin, historical development and activities of the Research Department', compiled by the Intelligence and Interchange Section in August 1952 based on notes originally prepared for use in the broader company history produced in 1949 for Metropolitan-Vickers jubilee. The history covers the years 1922-1949.

The history includes an appendix describing the schedule of radio programmes broadcast from 2ZY on Tuesday, 19th December 1922. Covering the hours between 5:55 pm and 10pm, the schedule includes announcements, children's programmes, music, gardening notes and news. Some of the performers and broadcasters are named.

2ZY was the name of Manchester’s first radio station. It was created by Metropolitan Vickers, a key Manchester engineering company and member of the early BBC consortium. Metropolitan Vickers converted a few rooms in their research department at Trafford Park to be their studio and equipment room. They broadcast for just a few hours each evening, providing news, music and entertainment to homes for miles around. 2ZY were the first radio station to have a dedicated programme just for children.

After only a year of broadcasting from Trafford Park, 2ZY moved its operation to Dickinson Street in Manchester city centre. This was to make travelling to the station easier for performers and presenters and to have more suitable broadcasting conditions than a converted office room.