#Microwave September 16

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This month the #Coach4adayChallenge for September is to profile a biography of someone. My choice for today is an engineer who grew up in Maine and invented the 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 to Percy Spencer. 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 a 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 ’20’s, Spencer became one of Raytheon’s 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.

The next time you use your MICROWAVE remember Percy Spencer.