General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

2

Total Parts

3

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Metal and synthetic.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

43.9 cm

Width

3.0 cm

Height

3.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Domestic Technology

Category

Food processing

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

LITTON

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Minnesota

City

Minneapolis

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Unknown

Period

1978-2011 Manufacture date July 1978.

Canada

Taken from acquisition proposal, reference # 1: Mr. Elmars Silis, the donor’s father, received this microwave as a gift for his contribution to the United Way campaign in 1978. He gave it to his wife, Elvira, who did not want to use the microwave oven. The microwave was unpacked until 1979 when Andy and Cheryl Silis, who just got married, asked to have it. Andy and Cheryl used the microwave very often to cook. Cheryl really liked the appliance and thought that food made in this oven tasted better than from a conventional oven. The family used the microwave in Ottawa from 1979 till 1981. It then traveled with Andy and Cheryl to Whitehorse, YK (1981-1984) and to Saint John, NF (1984-July 1992) and back to Ottawa. It did not fit in a standard microwave shelf and was kept on a counter. The Silis family have used the microwave until their son protested and brought home a used, but newer and smaller model. The son was afraid that the old microwave was leaking radiation. The microwave is in its original state, never needed repairs.

Function

Plugs into interior of microwave. Used to determine the temperature of food being cooked.

Technical

Taken from acquisition proposal, reference # 1: The microwave was made by Camco on a license from Litton Solid State. In the 1960s Litton developed a new configuration of the microwave and a new magnetron feed that changed the shape of microwaves and resulted in an oven that could survive a no-load condition, where there was no object to absorb the microwaves, indefinitely. The new oven was demonstrated in 1967 at a trade show in Chicago. It marks the point of a rapid growth of the market for home microwave ovens in the US. The market saturation in Canada was much smaller. In 1982, only about 10% of Canadian families owned a microwave oven compared to almost 30% of US families. This oven features a metal shelf (its shape and thickness makes it safe) and a Vari-Temp sensor to check the temperature of food.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

None apparent.

Missing

Appears complete.

Finish

Combination of white synthetic cord and holder and silver metal probe.

Decoration

N/A