Many Happy Returns!

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6918, 23 July 1932, Page 6

Many Happy Returns!

STATION 2ZF The Manawatu Radio Club celebrated its eightli birthday last evening. It was on July 9th, 1924, that a small band of enthusiasts (then looked upon more or less as cranks)_ met and decided on a transmitter with the modest power of 5 watts and it was put into operation a fortnight later, operated bv batteries.

*Mr. F. J. Nathan was the first- president of the club and he was followed in that office by' Mr. A. 11. M. Wright, and for the last five years by Mr. W. A. Waters. The fir=t secretary of the club was Mr. J. Johnson, with. Mr. J. N. Lcet as assistant secretary. After eight months Mr. Johnson resigned ami Mr. Lcet took over the secretarial duties for seven years, resigning only recently. Air. P. J. Swindell has been treasurer since the commencement eight years ago. The initial membership of tho club was 37, but in those days receiving sets w-rc few and far between. There were no special electrical gramophone pick-ups those days cither, the difficulty being overcome by playing a gramophone in a small studio, the music being picked up by a microphone. Late ia 1927 the club started to build the transmitter now in use.

'The original station worked under the call letters 2GI which were changed to 2ZP when tho Government commenced licensing stations. At first only two sessions weekly were conducted, then three sessions weekly, and now six. The station was first located in the Linton Rifle Club building, in King street, but were transferred to Messrs. C. and CPs buildings in 192 G, tho firm gratuitously adding to tho studio accommodation as the oecasior demanded.