1957 Tappan microwave.

[kevin313]

Anthony - like so many people, I thought the first manufacturer of microwave ovens was Amana, since the technology was invented at Raytheon. I had no idea Tappan was in that game so early...when you look at the Tappan gas ranges of the mid-50's they don't have a very modern look for the time, and here they were also making these space-age microwaves! Thank you for restoring a wonderful piece of home appliance history!!

 

[petek]

Funny how such an expensive appliance compared to a toaster up until the 90's can now be found for as little as $39, less than the price of many toasters today.

 

[cadman]

Kevin,

I, too, found it odd that Tappan would get into the MW game given how their products weren't exactly on the bleeding edge. In actuality, it was Raytheon that licensed the technology to them. If you look at the '55 model, it's actually a stripped down 1954 Radarange 1161. The breakthrough that allowed for the countertop home microwave was the combination of the solid state high voltage rectifier and their compact design magnetron. As most know, they bought Amana in '65 to get into the appliance game to bring it to market. No more tube changes, no more warmup required, a reasonable size and a semi-affordable pricetag.

The Japanese were working on their own prototype magnetron designs but it wasn't until the late 60's that companies like Toshiba developed their own when the Raytheon patents expired. Litton got into the game in '71 with the new Toshiba mag and even Amana adopted it after the RR-4D. -Cory

 

[danemodsandy]

A Personal Memory....

Wealthy friends of my parents were the proud possessors of an Amana RR-1. Larry (a physician) was the kind of guy who wanted every new toy on the market; only the newest and best of everything was good enough for him.

At any rate, the RR-1 was touted as a cooking appliance, with lots of applications for family meals. Since the family totaled seven, with two adults and five children, Larry obviously wanted to help ease the chore of feeding such a large brood.

Well, for such early adopters, the family sure went into the 21st Century in a hurry. The expensive miracle appliance quickly found its niche reheating leftovers and making snacks. Larry used to refer to it as "the $400 hot dog warmer" (knowing him, he knew someone who knew someone and got a deal off the $495 list price). So far as anyone knows, Mary never actually cooked in it.

It's amazing how consumers determine what appliances will become, no matter the intentions of their inventors. I doubt one microwave in ten thousand is used for any real cooking today, or even defosting - just popcorn, ready meals and reheating.

The only difference between that 1967 purchase of an RR-1 and today's machines is that the "$400 hot dog warmer" has become the "$59 hot dog warmer."

 

[iej]

I use the microwave to cook fresh vegetables and par-cook ingredients if I'm rushing a pasta sauce, stew or curry type dish.

Oddly enough my granny (RIP) used to genuinely cook with a microwave. She used it for so many recipes and usually in combination with her conventional oven. She actually preferred to microwave a chicken then finish it by roasting for maybe 30 Min to brown it. She reckoned it was much more succulent and tender than just traditionally roasting it.

Other than vegetables and porridge (oatmeal) I don't really cook anything by microwave.

 

[petek]

I bake potatoes in the mw which only takes a few minutes and then put them in the toaster oven to crisp up the skin.. a lot faster than regular baking and there's no difference in taste or texture.

 

[mopar65]

Irk

That's entrusting how you don't use your microwave that much and your granny used it all the time. My grandmother on my dad's side (stubborn old daygo) would only use her microwave for pop corn. My mother the same way. And my moms mom (the never changing Mexican) would not go around one lol I do use it to heat up things pre cook things and to make some stuff. That's the cool part of thes 50's microwaves they have a broiler to brown food too

 

[mopar65]

Why don't they still make a MW with a broiler? You wouldn't have to put your patatos in the toaster oven to get what you won't petek.

 

[iej]

They do make them with a grill / broiler built in (at least here)

My panasonic is a combination oven, I only ever used it to do a baked potato maybe twice in 5 years!

I might get this to replace it

http://www.panasonic.com/uk/consumer/home-appliances/microwaves/combination-microwaves/nn-cs894.html

 

[mopar65]

That's nifty I have not seen them here.

 

[whirlaway]

The oldest Ive Seen!!!!

Was on the SS United States ocean liner.It was a huge 220volt Raytheon,it was maybe original to the ship when it was new in service in 1952,It was stainless steel,and I was told it could cook three turkeys at a time,it was about 3ft or more long,it had 2 dials one on each side of the door.Looked like an early 50s tv set.I wished I had bought it could have had it for a song.Everyone that saw it that day was amazed!!! That was in 85 or6 when they were auctioning everything off of the ship.They sold very little.I did get a Blue bolt down Westinghouse washer that I still have and they had bunches of parts for fans and washers,all Westinghouse.Lots of washers throughout the ship.I guess for passengers to freshen-up their clothes.I did notice no dryers! Bobby

 

[danemodsandy]

Bobby:

Too bad you didn't stock up at that auction. Anything provably from the United States brings in very good money today.

 

[cadman]

Combos

Funny you should mention combination units, last night was the first time I've legitimately used my RMC-30. Not only does it have 4 programs like the Touchmatic II, it also has the convenience of the cookmatic probe and operating as a microwave, a convection oven or both. It's almost too much!