Percy Spencer | Lemelson (2024)

Percy L. Spenceris best rememberedfor creating one of the most iconic kitchen appliances,the microwave oven. The inventor was born on July 9, 1894 in Howland, Maine. He dropped out of grammar school when he was 12 years old to work in a weaving mill and joined the U.S. Navy at 18 as a radio operator. During his shifts he taught himself calculus and physics from textbooks.

After being honorably discharged from the U.S. Navyfollowing World War I, Spencer began working at Raytheon, using his expertise to rise to success in the radio and vacuum tubes department. During World War II, he and his coworkers produced large amounts of radar equipment.One such piece of equipment wasthe compact cavity magnetron,a high-powered vacuum tubethat generates microwaves. Itwas used as a radar system in World War II to detect enemy planes and submarines. Though Spencer did not invent the magnetron himself, he did develop a system to mass produce the machine, increasing and improving the U.S. military’s technological capabilities. For his contributions, he received the Distinguished Public Service Award from the U.S. Navy.

Following the war, Spencer was in one of the Raytheon laboratories when he approached a magnetronand noticed that the chocolate bar in his pocket had started to melt, which he didn’t notice at the time was due to the radar’s microwaves.He decided to experiment with un-popped popcorn. He held the bag next to the magnetron and watched as the kernels turned into hardened, miniature white clouds.

Spencer and Raytheon put much effort into developing the microwave oven to be used for cooking purposes and filed for a patent on October 8, 1945. He was later awarded the patent on January 24, 1950. The first commercial microwave oven was called “Radarange,” marketed in 1947. It was a different sight from today’s microwaves, costing $3,000, weighing about 750 pounds and standing 6 feet tall. It took about 20 years before a more convenient-looking microwave was ready for home-use.

Spencer obtained over 100 patents and retired from Raytheon, passing away on September 7, 1970. Hewas inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame in 1999.

Percy Spencer | Lemelson (2024)

FAQs

Who did Percy Spencer marry? ›

Percy Spencer
EmployerRaytheon
Known forInventor of microwave oven
SpousesLouise Spencer Lillian Ottenheimer Spencer
Children3
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How much did Percy Spencer make from the microwave? ›

For his invention of microwave oven, Spencer received no royalties. He was paid a one-time $2 gratuity from Raytheon, which was the same token payment the company made to all inventors on its payroll.

Who invented the microwave and why? ›

The microwave was invented accidentally in 1945 by a self-taught engineer named Percy Spencer, who was leading a radar project for the defence giant, Raytheon. While testing a new vacuum tube called a magnetron, he discovered that a chocolate bar in his pocket had melted from the heat.

Who was experimenting with a magnetron that melted his chocolate bar? ›

In 1945 engineer Percy Spencer was researching radar at the Raytheon company. He stopped for a minute in front of a magnetron, an electronic vacuum tube that generates high-frequency radio waves. Suddenly feeling a strange sensation, he noticed that the chocolate bar in his pocket was melting.

Who did Percy fall in love with? ›

Annabeth Chase

She dislikes him at first, but they become good friends over the course of the series, and eventually Percy confesses his feelings for her. Their relationship deepens in the Heroes of Olympus series. Percy imagines himself going to college with Annabeth and eventually marrying her.

Is Percy Annabeth's boyfriend? ›

She appears first in the first novel of the series, The Lightning Thief. In the series she becomes close friends with Percy Jackson, later becoming his main love interest and girlfriend. Annabeth is architect of Olympus and one of the leaders in Camp Half Blood for half bloods/demigods.

What else did Percy Spencer invent? ›

Dr. Spencer was a leading authority in the field of microwave energy and high frequency devices, and held patents for 120 inventions. His inventions included the application of microwave energy to medical diathermy and the Radarange oven that cooks food electronically.

What was Percy Spencer's first job? ›

He dropped out of grammar school at age 12 to work as a spindle boy in a weaving mill, but in his early years he taught himself about electricity, even setting up a new electrical system at a local paper mill. When he was 18, Spencer joined the U.S. Navy as a radio operator.

How did Percy Spencer think of the microwave? ›

He decided to experiment with un-popped popcorn. He held the bag next to the magnetron and watched as the kernels turned into hardened, miniature white clouds. Spencer and Raytheon put much effort into developing the microwave oven to be used for cooking purposes and filed for a patent on October 8, 1945.

What food accidentally invented the microwave? ›

1945: American engineer Percy Spencer notices a candy bar melting in his pocket while operating the magnetron tube and experiments further with corn kernels, then files the first patent for a rough version of the modern microwave.

How much did the first microwave cost? ›

In 1947, Raytheon built the "Radarange", the first commercially available microwave oven. It was almost 1.8 metres (5 ft 11 in) tall, weighed 340 kilograms (750 lb) and cost about US$5,000 ($68,000 in 2023 dollars) each.

Did NASA invent the microwave? ›

American engineer Percy Spencer is generally credited with inventing the modern microwave oven after World War II from radar technology developed during the war. Named the "Radarange", it was first sold in 1946.

Why did chocolate burn in microwave? ›

Melting chocolate in the microwave isn't totally without perils. As the heat from a microwave can be fairly fierce and starts from within, you must make sure that you pause cooking every 20 to 30 seconds to give it a stir – otherwise your chocolate could burn, and burnt chocolate has a terrible flavour.

What chocolate bar doesn't melt in the microwave? ›

Although Flake is made from milk chocolate, the manufacturing process gives it a different arrangement of fat and cocoa solids, so the melting fat isn't able to lubricate the cocoa particles to the point where they can flow. In a bain marie, a Flake will never melt. In the microwave, it eventually just burns.

Who invented chocolate as we know it today? ›

From the 16th century, chocolate was introduced from the New World to Europe as a drink, and it soon became a symbol of luxury. What most of us now think of as chocolate — the chocolate bar — was invented in 1847 by the British company J.S. Fry and Sons, according to The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets.

Does Percy get married to Annabeth? ›

Yes, Annabeth is married to Percy Jackson, and has three kids: Cast, Ethan, and Zoe. How was Annabeth Chase born? Annabeth Chase is the half-blood daughter of the goddess Athena and the mortal man Frederick Chase.

Who does Percy marry in Percy Jackson? ›

Annabeth Jackson (Nee Chase) is the demigod daughter of Athena and Frederick Chase. She is the girlfriend and later on wife to Percy Jackson, and the mother to four kids: Cast, Ethan, Zoe and Violet Jackson. She is currently working as an architect.

Who does Percy end up with in Percy Jackson? ›

In the end of Pjo Percy and Annabeth get together and stay together throughout the other series.

Who is Percy Jackson's girlfriend in the books? ›

Annabeth Chase is a demigod daughter of the Greek goddess Athena and girlfriend of Percy Jackson. She is one of the main protagonists in Percy Jackson and the Olympians and The Heroes of Olympus.

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