1957 Tappan microwave.
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Anthony, Awesome to see that old gem cooking again! What does the power supply look like when its running, is the rectifier glow pretty steady or does it fluctuate?
If you ever have the inclination, it would sure be neat to try to measure the RF output power. I did a thread a while back that detailed a simple method that can quantify the output power. Wonder how it compares with modern ovens?
http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?54551
Thumbs up on getting it running in any case!
If you ever have the inclination, it would sure be neat to try to measure the RF output power. I did a thread a while back that detailed a simple method that can quantify the output power. Wonder how it compares with modern ovens?
http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?54551
Thumbs up on getting it running in any case!
57 Tappan Electronic Oven
Very cool Anthony, hopefully this will inspire me to get my 1962 Westinghouse EO up and running, mine is the next generation EO built by Tappan that is water cooled.
Yes it would be great if we could determine the power output of these early MWOs, I also want to test some of my GE 915 KH MWOs.
Great job Anthony, maybe you guys could come visit and help get ours running.
Very cool Anthony, hopefully this will inspire me to get my 1962 Westinghouse EO up and running, mine is the next generation EO built by Tappan that is water cooled.
Yes it would be great if we could determine the power output of these early MWOs, I also want to test some of my GE 915 KH MWOs.
Great job Anthony, maybe you guys could come visit and help get ours running.
Out put
I will have to try out your method to find out the power output. If what I was reading is right they claimed the 55 to 58's had 900W. John I would love to see your microwaves and most defiantly the 62 Westinghouse! How grate a water cooled magnetron I wonder if that would work better seeing as the first ones made were the same then they went to air cooled then back to water and back air cooled with the radar range. Makes one think they went to air cooled to make them cheeper. I also reeding some place that the water cooled units had to run the water pump for 10 to 20 min to cool down the magnetron. Have you ever heard that before?
I would love to come down and see your museum!
I will have to try out your method to find out the power output. If what I was reading is right they claimed the 55 to 58's had 900W. John I would love to see your microwaves and most defiantly the 62 Westinghouse! How grate a water cooled magnetron I wonder if that would work better seeing as the first ones made were the same then they went to air cooled then back to water and back air cooled with the radar range. Makes one think they went to air cooled to make them cheeper. I also reeding some place that the water cooled units had to run the water pump for 10 to 20 min to cool down the magnetron. Have you ever heard that before?
I would love to come down and see your museum!
WOW
I didn't know microwave ovens were around in the 1950s. I only became aware of them in the 1970s.
a couple of questions:
1. why was there a shelf inside? could you cook one thing on the floor of the oven and another on the shelf?
2. The light seems to be flickering - or is that just something to do with the video?
3. 4 knobs across the top - what do they all do?
I didn't know microwave ovens were around in the 1950s. I only became aware of them in the 1970s.
a couple of questions:
1. why was there a shelf inside? could you cook one thing on the floor of the oven and another on the shelf?
2. The light seems to be flickering - or is that just something to do with the video?
3. 4 knobs across the top - what do they all do?
danemodsandy
Well-known member
I Think....
....That Tappan introduced these ovens to the consumer market in '54. I have seen references to them as early as that. However, most sources on the Internet say 1955, which could mean that Tappan introduced them in late '54 for the 1955 model year.
The basic idea behind microwave ovens was discovered at Raytheon in 1945. Raytheon wasted no time getting microwaves into the hands of the U.S. military, in 1947. There was also a demonstration to the public in Boston, using hot dogs. Microwave ovens began being used in restaurants and food-service applications. For a time, the Stouffer's chain based much of its concept on centrally-produced food shipped frozen and then microwaved in its restaurants. The restaurants are gone, but Stouffer's frozen food is still going strong in grocery stores.
The Tappan microwave didn't sell too well, due to a staggering list price of $1295 in 1954 dollars (equal to more than $11,000 now). Things kind of sat there until 1967, when Amana introduced the countertop Radarange at $495. That was still very expensive (like $3,500 today), but not out of the question for luxury households. The 1967 Radarange (the RR-1) was the "breakthrough" machine that began making people want a microwave oven.
....That Tappan introduced these ovens to the consumer market in '54. I have seen references to them as early as that. However, most sources on the Internet say 1955, which could mean that Tappan introduced them in late '54 for the 1955 model year.
The basic idea behind microwave ovens was discovered at Raytheon in 1945. Raytheon wasted no time getting microwaves into the hands of the U.S. military, in 1947. There was also a demonstration to the public in Boston, using hot dogs. Microwave ovens began being used in restaurants and food-service applications. For a time, the Stouffer's chain based much of its concept on centrally-produced food shipped frozen and then microwaved in its restaurants. The restaurants are gone, but Stouffer's frozen food is still going strong in grocery stores.
The Tappan microwave didn't sell too well, due to a staggering list price of $1295 in 1954 dollars (equal to more than $11,000 now). Things kind of sat there until 1967, when Amana introduced the countertop Radarange at $495. That was still very expensive (like $3,500 today), but not out of the question for luxury households. The 1967 Radarange (the RR-1) was the "breakthrough" machine that began making people want a microwave oven.
Gizmo/Moparguy
Gizmo
1. Yes two things can be cooked at the same time but the shelf is there to adjust the distance to the broiler element to brown foods.
2. The light "flickers" because of the stirrer. It changes the path of the RF waves to heat foods more evenly.
3. The knobs left to right 1st knob turns on the broiler. 2 knob switches it from hi and low. 3 Turns on the unit. 4 Turns on the microwave.
Moparguy.
Me too. I have no idea but I’m starting to think so.
Gizmo
1. Yes two things can be cooked at the same time but the shelf is there to adjust the distance to the broiler element to brown foods.
2. The light "flickers" because of the stirrer. It changes the path of the RF waves to heat foods more evenly.
3. The knobs left to right 1st knob turns on the broiler. 2 knob switches it from hi and low. 3 Turns on the unit. 4 Turns on the microwave.
Moparguy.
Me too. I have no idea but I’m starting to think so.
First Tappan Microwave Ovens
Tappan was the first company to introduce MWOs to US consumers. When I was going through old appliance parts stores in Cleveland Ohio approximately 15 years ago I came across a bunch of newspaper articles and press releases from Tappan telling about their unveiling their new appliance in 1955 in Cleveland.
By 1958 Tappan was also making a MWO for RCA Whirlpool and Westinghouse, these were also built-in models and were virtually identical to the Tappans except for styling details. All these orignal Tappan models were built-in models and required a 208-240 volt 30 amp line to operate.
Hotpoint also sold a MW cooking center in the late 1950s, it looked like a double wall oven with one oven being a MWO and the other a conventional Electric oven. I am not sure when GE first sold a MWO to the public.
The thing that really got MWOs selling was the introduction of counter-top 120 volt plug-in models, when this happened anyone could have one without expensive remodeling, as Sandy mentioned it appears that Amana may have been the first to introduce a counter-top MWO, but Litton and a few Japanese brands were hot on the heels of Amana and had counter-top models within a year of Amanas introduction for sale in the US.
The sales and acceptance of MWOs and Induction cooking took much the same course in this country. Induction cook-tops were first sold by Westinghouse in 1969 but no one bought them because you had make a big commitment and build it in. It was not untill portable units and 30" free-standing ranges came out with this great feature that many were ever sold. I predict that in the next twenty years induction cooking will be more popular than gas range tops and probably also pass regular electric cook-top sales as well.
Tappan was the first company to introduce MWOs to US consumers. When I was going through old appliance parts stores in Cleveland Ohio approximately 15 years ago I came across a bunch of newspaper articles and press releases from Tappan telling about their unveiling their new appliance in 1955 in Cleveland.
By 1958 Tappan was also making a MWO for RCA Whirlpool and Westinghouse, these were also built-in models and were virtually identical to the Tappans except for styling details. All these orignal Tappan models were built-in models and required a 208-240 volt 30 amp line to operate.
Hotpoint also sold a MW cooking center in the late 1950s, it looked like a double wall oven with one oven being a MWO and the other a conventional Electric oven. I am not sure when GE first sold a MWO to the public.
The thing that really got MWOs selling was the introduction of counter-top 120 volt plug-in models, when this happened anyone could have one without expensive remodeling, as Sandy mentioned it appears that Amana may have been the first to introduce a counter-top MWO, but Litton and a few Japanese brands were hot on the heels of Amana and had counter-top models within a year of Amanas introduction for sale in the US.
The sales and acceptance of MWOs and Induction cooking took much the same course in this country. Induction cook-tops were first sold by Westinghouse in 1969 but no one bought them because you had make a big commitment and build it in. It was not untill portable units and 30" free-standing ranges came out with this great feature that many were ever sold. I predict that in the next twenty years induction cooking will be more popular than gas range tops and probably also pass regular electric cook-top sales as well.
Just found this on the net. 34 units!
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.
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.
Early Tappan MWOs
WOW Anthony, I had no idea there were so few made, no wonder it has taken me so long to find one, I am still on the lookout for a browner element for your 57.
Hopefully Cory will get the 58 Westinghouse running that I took out to him in June.
WOW Anthony, I had no idea there were so few made, no wonder it has taken me so long to find one, I am still on the lookout for a browner element for your 57.
Hopefully Cory will get the 58 Westinghouse running that I took out to him in June.
Pretty amazing, watching the pulsating light of the microwave actually running, and the facts that you, John, and Sandy have on these machines. I guess that the ($11000 in todays dollars) that Sandy found that they sold for would explain the extraordinarily low production run! And also explains why they are so scarce today!
Great video / I've got one too.
The Tappan I have is an R4AL1. Purchased about 1961.
Looks almost identical, but is a little more decoration.
No plans to make it work again... I'm aiming to donate it to a museum.
The Tappan I have is an R4AL1. Purchased about 1961.
Looks almost identical, but is a little more decoration.
No plans to make it work again... I'm aiming to donate it to a museum.
