Photograph of 2ZY radio transmission equipment

Black and white photographic print showing radio transmission equipment used at the temporary radio station 2ZY. The photograph is labelled with the negative number 15743 on the reverse.

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. Engineers would quietly tiptoe between the rooms to adjust equipment during broadcasting hours.

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.