Tiny Tuesday - 2LO

Here is the latest instalment in my occasional series of enamel badges from my personal collection, which are all quite tiny and therefore tend to feature on Tiny Tuesdays. This one has a diameter of just 19mm. It is nearly 100 years old, having been made pre-1928, and is quite scarce to come by. I have previously shown you its successor dating from the 1930’s, sent out to children who joined the BBC’s Radio Circle club (see my blip of 19th March 2024).

The 2LO radio station began broadcasting on 11th May 1922, for one hour a day, from the seventh floor of Marconi House in London's Strand. It transferred in November of that year into the brand new British Broadcasting Company, which became the British Broadcasting Corporation in 1927. At this point 2LO referred to the London area, other UK areas being identified by different numbers and letters such as 5NO for Newcastle and 2EH for Edinburgh, though the BBC eventually ceased using these codes.

The badge bears a shield from the City of London Coat of Arms and a transmission tower, and is stamped on the reverse with the unique membership number 11442. It’s in excellent condition, with only the most microscopic flaw in the enamel on the ‘N’ of London, and the catch still works - though I won’t chance wearing it for fear of it getting lost. I have seen one or two for sale recently priced at between £75 - £150. Mine didn’t cost as much as that - but then, I’m very patient at researching and tracking down a bargain!

Thank you to Incredibish for hosting May’s Tiny Tuesday.