Early Panasonic Microwave Ovens

[petek]

Perhaps someone here can confirm this or remembers these. I distinctly remember back in 1975 that Panasonic (I'm 90% sure it was Panasonic) microwave ovens were not the ubiquitous box shaped ovens like the Amana and others. Instead they were wedge shaped contraptions much like a suitcase on its side with the front being the the low end, sloping up towards the back. There were one or two dial/timers along the right and a glass window/door that protruded from the top which lifted up and you put the food in. I check the Panasonic site and could find nothing.

 

[brisnat81]

National Panasonic

Hi Pete,

My mothers National Microwave from 1979 is the box shape.

Brown woodgrain finish cabinet, brown door and control panel.

All electronic with cook and defrost by weight options, delay start, 3 stage cooking and the weight options cover about 10 categories. 700W with a turntable.

We had it serviced recently, no radiation leaks after 26 years, and its still going strong.

Now she's an empty nester I've been trying to talk her into the new Panasonic Convection oven, but while this one is alive she cant see the point

Nathan

 

[DADoES]

I vaguely recall seeing a micro like that, and I think it was a Panasonic.

Wasn't Panasonic the first to feature moisture-sensor cooking, with their "Genius" line?

 

[maytagbear]

I don't have a model number, or anything, but YES,

There was at least ONE Panasonic microwave as you describe.

I saw it at a social service agency for which I volunteered. (92-94) It was very powerful, and cute.
This one had just the one dial, and was nicely quiet.

We called it the "Jetsons Wave."

It was old when I was volunteering there, and a number of years later, when I went back for a visit, it had been replaced by a square something.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[gansky1]

Your description of the wedge shaped oven does ring a bell, I'm not sure if it was Panasonic or another brand but I know I've at least seen a picture of it...

I also remember the Genius line from Panasonic and am still looking for one. When we were shopping for our first microwave, it was between Panasonic and Amana and in the end, a mid-line Amana came home. I really liked the moisture sensor in the Panasonic, it seemed to be quite accurate.

 

[spiralactivator]

A wedge-shaped Panasonic would be interesting to see. I can't say I've ever encountered one. Was Panasonic the maker that used "10 seconds, 1 second, 10 minutes, 1 minute" on their digital controls?

 

[petek]

so there are some out there

Now if I could only find one. The type of thing you could out on your counter and everyone saying "what the H is that"?

I must have had horseshoes today because I went to a flea market and see this Oster Food Center but it looked kind of worn so I passed..Next on I'm perusing thru all this dealers furniture and antique glass and there on the floor is a 50's Toastmaster with the cotton cord,like new, they wanted $28 but I figured too much,, they're closing down at the end of the month to retire so I'll go back for it
Next I go to this womans stall who's selling tons of glassware and plates and she has an avacado Oster Imperial blender, not a mark on it, shiny as the day it was made, and purrs like a kitten..so I grabbed that for $10.

Lastly I'm walking by the guy with a tiny stall selling hemp oil, hemp vitamins, hemp everything and he's gabbing to some people..right behind his stool.. a pink Hoover Constellation with hose, but minus the wands. Plugs it in..purrs away, $30 and he throws in an old Royal metal hand vac and bag of Hoover J bags. It's not pristine but not too shabby, can clean that up and find some wands and attachments.

Oh and just so it wasn't all about me...my sister collects and has hundreds and hundreds of miniature costume dolls of the world, I find two really nice little miniatures I know she'll go gaga over.

 

[DADoES]

Several brands used the 10 min / 1 min / 10 sec / 1 sec control setup. We had a 1979 Whirlpool that did, it had pushbutton electronic controls, not touchpads. My sister has a Quasar, also with pushbuttons, left in the house they bought recently.

 

[petek]

For sure Quasars

Had the 10min 1 Min type entry and I think Panasonic did as well, they were the same machines if I recollect. It was never a very logical setup requiring too much button pushing to enter a time.
I don't have any experience with the Genius models other than we had a large convection model at work but I never tried the convection feature.

Danby has a medium model called the Silouhette <sp> that is all stainless, inside and outside, sides,top included, and inexpensive. $89 here in Cda. How they can sell one for that cheap and everything else is plastic is beyond me.

 

[brisnat81]

Genius is still available

The Genius is still available, we have them at work and I love them. I put my frozen leftovers in, push the auto reheat button, stir when it tells me to, and then approx 5 mins or so later its ready to eat and at the perfect temperature.

If the 10 - 1 - 10 - 1 function isnt standard in the US how do you program your Microwave?

The old ones here you pushed POWER and it cycled through the settings,

100%
90%
75% and so on

Then you pushed the time you wanted.

The new ones now have done away with the power setting, unless you wish to change the cooking rate.

http://panasonic.com.au/products/category.cfm?objectID=125

 

[DADoES]

Several brands features moisture sensors now, it isn't exclusive to Panasonic and/or their "Genius" model. I've had two Sharps with moisture sensor functions, and my OTR GE Profile has it as well.

Most electronic control ovens nowadays have a full 10-digit numeric keypad for entering times and power levels. Set the time, then press a "power" button followed by a number that represents the percentage of full power. There are variations. My grandmother's current Kenmore has a numeric keypad for time, but power is set by pressing the Power button repeatedly to cycle through the 10 levels.

My GE Profile has an LCD touch screen on which the layout changes per the functions that are logical at any point during the programming sequence. The power level can be changed on-the-fly during a cooking sequence without stopping/reprogramming/restarting.

 

[gansky1]

The first micro that I had with a moisture sensor was a GE micro-hood combo. It worked quite well but I rarely used it. My parents have it now in their house and claimed it didn't work at all. A little "customer education" cured that problem ;-)