#Microwave August 4
We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
August 2026 several of us are going to take on theĀ 30-Day Plugged in Coach4aday Challenge. Each day, we will feature an item from home or office that requires being plugged into a source of electricity to operate. We will reflect on how it makes life easier. For Day 4 it is the MICROWAVE Oven.
In 1976, I was introduced to the microwave oven when one of my coworkers proudly announced that he and his wife had received one as a wedding gift. He couldn’t stop talking about it, especially its ability to cook a frozen hot dog in less than a minute. Since he had a tendency to exaggerate, I challenged him to prove it. One day he did just that, and I saw firsthand what this remarkable new kitchen appliance was capable of.
If you want to read more about my first experience, I did a post on October 21, 2025
Day 4-Microwave
There is a an estimated MICROWAVE oven in over 90% of American homes. We owe a great deal of credit for this handy kitchen appliance toĀ Percy Spencer.Ā Spencer was born in 1894 and did not have an easy childhood. He lost his dad when he was 18 months old and his mom turned him over to his aunt and uncle. In 1906 at the age of 12 he stopped attending school and went to work in aĀ spool mill.
Impact of Percy Spencer
When the Titanic sank Percy Spencer got inspired by the radio operator on that ship that he joined the navy. After WW I he went to work for a company named American Appliance Company. In 1925 that business changed its name to one many are familiar with today Raytheon Manufacturing Company. In the ā20ās, Spencer became one of Raytheonās most valued and well-known engineers.
During and after WW II Spencer was involved in lots of ideas on how to improve and mass produce radar magnetrons.
According to a story I found in Popular Mechanics at this link the following took place.
Recent Comments