Who Invented the Microwave Oven?
Percy Spencer, a remarkable engineer, tested and invented the use of microwave radiation to cook food in a contained appliance in 1945. His ingenuity and perseverance led to a revolutionary invention that has become an indispensable part of our lives.
The Invention Revolves around the Magnetron
A magnetron converts electric energy to microwave radiation.
A magnetron is a device that produces power in a microwave frequency. It was invented in the early 1900s by Albert Hull, an employee of General Electric, who could find no practical use. Before World War II, John Randall and Harry Boot modified Hull’s version, making it much more powerful. It was then used during the war to increase sonar capability. While working on one of these devices for Raytheon, engineer Percy Spencer noted its effect on food when the chocolate bar in his pocket melted from contact with the microwaves. Spencer had constructed an appliance that contained and secured microwaves inside that could be used to cook food in a matter of months. [1]
The Microwave Oven’s Evolution
1947: Raytheon patented Spencer’s invention and unveiled it to the world in 1947 as the Radar range. The first unit weighed more than five hundred pounds, was more than five feet tall, and had a price tag of nearly $3,000.00, which would equate to more than forty thousand dollars today. [2] [3]
1955: The Tappan Stove company entered into a licensing agreement with Raytheon to provide consumers with a smaller, more compact version of the microwave oven that would be more suitable for home use. Its $1300.00 price tag set it out of reach for most consumers. [4]
1967: Two years after acquiring Amana Refrigerators, Raytheon brought the first countertop microwave to the market, which was smaller and more reliable than the previous version. The $495.00 price tag still put it out of reach for 99% of consumers. [5] [6] Litton Industries, another defense manufacturer, unveiled its home model with a compact square design similar to today’s microwave ovens. [7]
1986-Today: Just 15 years after the first countertop model was introduced, more than 20% of American households had a microwave. Today, that number has increased to more than 90%. [8] [9]
Resources
- [1] Florida State University Magnet Lab – “The Magnetron.”
- [2][4][5] Bureau of Labor Statistics – “Hedonic Quality Adjustment Methods for Microwave Ovens in US CPI.”
- [3] Measuring Worth – “Real Value Calculator.”
- [6][8]National Center for Policy Analysis – “Technology and Economic Growth in the Information Age.”
- [7] Litton Corporation – Litton Products
- [9]Reserve Bank of Dallas—1997 Annual Report; Cox and Alm “Time Well Spent: The Declining Real Cost of Living in America.”
