The microwave oven like many other inventions
was invented as an accidental by-product of war-time research. It
was invented in 1945 by self taught Raytheon Engineer Percy
Spencer, who was using an using a device called a magnetron.
Magnetrons produce microwave radiation, a type of radiowave, they
were being used in a experiment for the then new radar technology.
One day while working with this equipment Spencer noticed the
candy bar in his pocket had melted. Assuming this was caused by
the magnatron he tested other foods in front of the magnatron and
noticed not only did it cook food but it did it fast. late in 1946
Spencer had filed a patent for Raytheon describing their new oven.
in 1947 the first oven hit the market. Called the "Radarange" the
first units were massive, they stood over 5 feet tall and weighed
over 750 pounds, they were not very popular not only due to their
$5000 price tag (in contrast a new ford V8 cost about $2000) but
also people were not very satisfied with their soggy un-browned
food.
The Microwave oven improved and progressed very quickly by the
1950s the first home units hit the market and by the late 1960s
counter top microwaves costing under $500 were available and with
a flood of Japanese imports of cheap microwaves their were plenty
of styles to choose from. Spencer worked at Raytheon until his
death at the age of 76 in 1970. At the time of his death Percy
Spencer held 150 patents and was also awarded a Distinguished
Service Medal by the U.S. Navy, he was inducted into the inventors
hall of fame in 1999. Today there are over 200 million microwave
ovens in use throughout the world not only cooking food but also
used for several commercial applications as well, like drying wood
for use in the construction industry.
