In 1947, Raytheon built the "Radarange", the first commercially available microwave oven. It was almost 1.8 metres (5 ft 11 in) tall, weighed 340 kilograms (750 lb) and cost about US$5,000 ($66,000 in 2022 dollars) each.
In 1947, Raytheon released the “Radarange,” the first commercially available microwave oven.
1947, The first prototype microwave cooker was made in the USA. 1955, The first domestic model in the USA. 1958, The first commercial model for sale in the UK. 1974, The first domestic model sold in the UK.
Microwave Oven, 1976
Percy Spencer developed and patented the first microwave oven after noticing that a magnetron was emitting heat-generating microwaves during an experiment with radar in 1945. The first models were huge—about 6 feet in height and weighing more than 750 pounds.
In the UK they also took off in the 1970s thanks to the rise of ready-meals - today 56% of us are still using microwaves to heat up our ready-made meals. By the 1990s over 50% of households in the UK owned a microwave.
Oven-sized microwaves for the home were introduced in 1955, but not until the 1980s did shrinking sizes and prices attract buyers.
It wasn't until 1967, two decades after its invention, that the microwave oven finally caught on in American homes in the form of Amana's compact “Radarange.” By 1975, a million microwaves were sold every year. Today, Rod Spencer is a project manager and engineer himself. He's written a book about his grandfather.
With normal usage for an average family and good maintenance, a microwave often lasts for 7 to 8 years. If the microwave is used less frequently by a single person or a couple and is well-maintained, the lifespan can increase to up to 10 years.
Most microwaves come from the same factory
We found evidence that most countertop microwaves sold in the US are manufactured by just one company, Midea. We confirmed with Midea that it makes and sells Toshiba, Comfee, and Black+Decker ovens.
1955: The first domestic microwave oven is introduced. Walk into almost any American kitchen today and there's one appliance that is likely to be sitting on the counter somewhere — a microwave oven.
The invention didn't catch on at first, hampered by public fears of microwave radiation, and by the sheer cost and size. Those microwave ovens were huge, nearly six feet tall and more than 750 pounds, and cost $5000 — the equivalent of more than $50,000 in today's currency.
In 1985 there were a lot of different models of microwave oven on the market.
Microwave oven
If you wanted to reheat leftovers quickly in 1985, you could get an 0.8-cubic-foot microwave from Sears for about $240. You'd nuke your budget at the same time, though, as that's the equivalent of $585 today. Sears now offers a similar model for $70.
1946: The first commercial microwave—the RadaRange— is sold by Raytheon to restaurants, large canteens and ships' galleys. It was nearly six feet tall, weighed more than 750 pounds, used about 3,000 watts of power and sold for roughly $5,000. 1967: The first microwave for residential use comes to market.
Raytheon in 1965 acquired Amana, an appliance company in Newton, Iowa. In 1967, the first Amana home microwave oven, a 110-volt countertop model, sold for $495 (about $3,515 today). It was some 40 centimeters tall, 50 cm wide, and 30 cm deep.
Developed by Tappan in conjunction with Raytheon, the RL-1 was the first microwave oven designed for home use. With a retail price of $1,295, only 34 units were manufactured in 1955, the first year of production. The company sold a total of 1,396 units before production ended in 1964.
Since producing its first microwave in 1999, Midea has grown to become the world's largest major appliances manufacturer*.
If you take good care of your microwave up into its old age, there's a low risk of harm, but if it's damaged in any way you may want to get it checked out. If you've looked after it well, there's no reason why a vintage microwave should be dangerous.
Old age. If your microwave is approaching the 10-year mark, consider replacing it with a new, energy-efficient unit. Odd smells. A burning smell, smoke, or sparks are a sign something is amiss and you should immediately turn off and unplug the microwave and call for a repair.
The first indicator that your microwave is better off replaced is the five-year lifespan. Microwaves can last a long time, but they have the shortest lifespan of household appliances. If your microwave is over 6 years and especially if it's approaching 10 years old, you're likely better off with a new microwave.
The most common cause of microwave failure is its magnetron. The magnetron is what produces the microwaves that cook your food, and it's also the part that is most likely to burn out. Symptoms of a faulty or burned-out magnetron include a microwave that doesn't heat food properly or doesn't work.
By 1972, Litton (Litton Atherton Division, Minneapolis) introduced two new microwave ovens, priced at $349 and $399, to tap into the market estimated at $750 million by 1976, according to Robert I Bruder, president of the division.
Perhaps microwave technology hasn't evolved as dramatically to offer features so unique that brands will advertise. Whatever the reason, it's clear that marketers have the research to suggest a microwave ad spend isn't going to yield results.