It was during a radar-related research project around 1946 that Dr. Percy Spencer, while working for Raytheon Corporation, noticed that a candy bar in his pocket melted during the testing of a new vacuum tube called a magnetron. This intrigued Dr. Spencer, so he tried another experiment, this time he placing some popcorn kernels near the tube and, watched as the popcorn sputtered, cracked and popped.
The next morning Spencer decided to put the magnetron tube near an egg. Spencer and a colleague both watched as the egg began to tremor and shake. Spencer’s colleague moved in for a closer look just as the egg splattered yolk all over his face. Dr. Spencer concluded that if you can cook an egg that quickly, then you could cook other foods as well. He began experimenting. Dr. Spencer enclosed the food to be cooked in a metal box that he fed the microwaves into. Dr. Spencer had invented what was to revolutionize cooking, and form the basis of a multimillion dollar industry, the microwave oven, another famous invention.
In 1947, Raytheon demonstrated the world’s first microwave oven and called it a Radarange. The first microwave ovens cost between $2,000 and $3,000. Around 1952-55, Tappan introduced the first home model priced at $1295. In 1967 Raytheon owned Amana Refrigeration introduced the first countertop microwave oven. It cost just under $500 and was smaller, safer and more reliable than previous models.
By 1975, sales of microwave ovens would, for the first time, exceed that of gas ranges. In 1976, the microwave oven became a more commonly owned kitchen appliance than the dishwasher, reaching nearly about 52 million U.S. households. America’s cooking habits were being dramatically changed by the convenience of the microwave oven. Once considered a luxury, the microwave oven had developed into a practical necessity for a fast-paced world.
About the Author
For help with new invention ideas, online marketing, prototyping and more: Famous Inventions & Inventor Help Learn about patents, inventing, read inventions stories, marketing and more.
Learn about tankless water heaters: Tankless Water HeatersAll about storage type and tankless type water heaters.
National History Day Documentary Microwave Oven
