The Servodyne Company attempted to develop a prototype of the household microwave. The business records cover the operations and meetings of the company, as well as the corporation's financial troubles and liquidation following its bankruptcy in 1968. Also included are design details and photographs of the ovens.
Scope and Contents:
Records of the company that developed an early microwave oven. The business records include documents such as Board of Directors meeting minutes, stockholder meeting minutes, correspondence, legal documents, financial papers, publications, photographs, drawings and specifications, and other business papers. Also included in the collection are newspaper and magazine clippings featuring stories about the safety and use of microwave ovens.
Arrangement:
Collection is arranged into six series.
Series 1: Minutes, 1961-1968
Series 2: Correspondence, 1961-1968
Series 3: Legal Documents, 1965-1966
Series 4: Financial Materials, 1960-1965
Series 5: Publications, 1955-1971
Series 6: Photographs, 1955, 1971
Biographical / Historical:
John Gunnarson, a former employee of Raytheon, formed the Servodyne Company (1960), which made prototypes of the microwave oven. The company sought to bring microwave technology into the home for everyday use in a time when microwaves and their safety were under scrutiny. Developed by Gunnarson, Roger F. French, and Donald R. Lester, this prototype utilized klystrons instead of the magnetrons used by competitors. The company applied for a patent in 1966, but the oven was never successful. Servodyne Company struggled with financial issues and leadership changes, and the business folded in 1968 due to lack of funding. The liquidation process lasted until 1971.
Separated Materials:
A prototype microwave is in the Division of Work and Industry. See Accession 2003.0107.01.
Provenance:
Collection donated by John A. Gunnarson in 2003.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Sorensen & Co. ; Raytheon Production Co. ; Raytheon Engineering Service ; Raytheon Semiconductor (Mountain View, CA) ; Raytheon Network Centric Systems, Air Traffic Management Systems, Navigation & Landing Systems ; Raytheon Command, Control, Communication & Information Systems, Air Traffic Management Systems (Fullerton, CA) Search this
Notes content:
electrical equipment ; voltage rectifiers and regulators ; transformers and chokes ; amplifiers ; engineering services ; submarine signal products ; radio and broadcast equipment ; microwave equipment ; industrial electrical precipitators and air cleaners ; semiconductors ; spectrum analyzers ; "Sonascan" ultrasonic imaging device ; TV picture tubes ; radio equipment ; semiconductors ; linear quads & duals ; receiving tubes ; satellite-based navigation real-time service monitoring system ; wide area augmentation system/space-based augmentation system ; air traffic management systems ; navigation and landing systems
Papers documenting William R. Stone's involvement in the invention and development of the microwave for industrial and home use. The collection includes biographical information; patents, and other invention related papers; photographs; design drawings; internal company papers and memoranda; Stone's research and reports, especially on the subject of microwave safety; and trade literature relating to products for both industrial and home use.
Arrangement:
1 series.
Biographical / Historical:
Stone was an engineer for Raytheon. He was involved in the invention and development of microwave ovens for industrial uses, such as for ink drying, rubber vulcanization, and later for home use.
Provenance:
Donated to the Archives Center in 2014 by Robin Hoffman, William Stone's daughter.
Restrictions:
Collection open for research on site by appointment. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
