RadarRange~

[MikeS]

Litton Made A Good Microwave

My first experience with microwave cooking came around 1980 or so, when my mother bought a used Litton microwave from a co-worker. It had touchpad controls, no turntable, and it was woodgrained steel(!) But it was a rock; it worked well and we learned to adapt to microwave cooking. When my mom died, I took the Litton and kept it for several more years until we sold it. Later, I bought a Sears microwave, which ran for ten years with no complaint. In 2002, I gave the microwave to charity and installed a GE above-range microwave in my condo kitchen. It's still turning out fine food.
I'm also sorry Litton got out of the microwave business.

 

[autowasherfreak]

1st Microwave

The first microwave oven that I had ever seen or used was at a lady's house that I used to clean. I was an Amana RadarRange. It was rather slow. She must have used it a lot, because it took me forever to get in clean. I also remember that her husband had a pacemaker, and she would always use it when he would be kitchen, and it would interfere with his pacemaker.

She had a nice kitchen when it was clean. Her oven was built in to the wall, and instead of the doors opening downward, it had two doors that opened opened together on each side. Her oven, cooktop, and dishwasher were all stainless steel. This was in the early to mid 80's.

I bought a microwave for my mother and I in late 80's or early 90's it was a Magic Chef, and you could cook by time or temperature with the temperature probe. I made a ham in it using the temperature probe, that tasted just like it came out of the oven. I also made a very delicious swiss steak in it. I had it until 95 or 96. It working until tripped and fell into the open door breaking the door completely off.

 

[tolivac]

Litton also made magnetron tubes for the military-for radar transmitters.Have seen a few mil spec type Litton Magnetrons for military radars.Because microwave cookers cook so fast-the early mechanical timers were not real accurate-found this on my Moms early GE microwave oven.Set the timer for LESS than the cook time and turned out well-then you could add more cooking if required.The electronic digital timers in later microwaves were MUCH better than the mechanical ones..I used to have a Sams or similar book on early microwave repair-lent it out to someone and never got it back-some of those early magnetrons were liquid cooled and the oven had a sealed liquid cooling system-and some of the early magnetrons had electromagnets for the focus magnet instead of the pm ones used today.Much like the early electromagnet speakers.And the magnetron would draw too much current if the mag feild was weak.It was an interesting book.Now I don't lend books anymore.

 

[whirlcool]

I will have to admit though, our current above the stove Kenmore microwave cooks much more evenly and is a heck of a lot quieter than our Litton.
We're just holding on the the Litton for posterities sake. Maybe one day we'll find the glass bottom for the cavity.

 

[karmann]

My dad bought my mom an Amana Radar Range around 1974 or 1976. It was the big stainless model with two rotary dial controls and three push button controls. I can't remember the exact year, but I do remember the Radar Range cost $600 and my mom also got the Singer Athena 2000 sewing machine (cost $1200) about the same time. I remember my mom cooking out of the cookbook that came with it. One night she made stuffed peppers. Honestly, the worst food I've EVER eaten in my life. My mom "cooked" in the microwave-I do not. I find it good for melting stuff and reheating vegetables, and that is about it.

That Radar Range was still being used by my dad into the 1990's. I think he gave it to his church and bought a new one.

My first microwave was a GE Spacemaker-the undercounter mounted model. We bought it at Costco when we returned from our Honeymoon in 1986. I thought I was something, as no one in my husband's family even owned a microwave!

 

[rp2813]

I liked the temperature probe feature in my 1980 Panasonic. I didn't use it all that often, but when needed it did a great job. I don't get why they stopped including them. My friend and I cooked a whole chicken by probe and it came out perfect for the batch of enchiladas we were making. I don't know that I'd do a beef roast or anything like that, but the probes did serve a purpose and I wish my new Panasonic had one.

 

[sdlee]

to us it was a surprised

mothersday 1980 or so.

My brother brings in laundry from his apt and sets it on moms dryer.Comes into the dining room where me dad and sis are talking about a car she wants.

Brother says mom, will you do my laundry/ I gotta get to work, with that he leaves.

She sighs but goes to get started. She comes back in and is overflowing with tears.

I say jeez, mom if you dont want to do his laundry I will do it.Christ.

she bawls,...theres a microwave oven in there...

yep sure enough at the bottom of his "laundry" (really just a t shirt and some jeans)is a Hotpoint Microwave oven and a note I love you mom, Happy mothers Day

Thus the world of mega speed cooking enteres our household.