Amana introduced the world's first 115-volt countertop microwave oven in 1967. Geared specifically for consumer use, the product sold for $495 retail.
An employee of Raytheon, Dr. Percy Spencer, invented the microwave. The company improved on the design and eventually sold the first microwave.
The first microwave ovens were sold in 1960 but were not a commonly used appliance until the late 1980's
This is not a question, but I will tell you they were sold and in use by the mid 70's. The first ones were expensive.
Microwave ovens are sold at all home appliance stores, such as Sears, Home Depot, Best Buy, Walmart, Ikea, etc. They are often also sold at furniture stores, in the kitchen section.
The simple answer is yes. The more detailed answer is no. Any serving plate (your 1972 English china for example) made before the invention of the microwave oven is not microwave safe. They simple did not have the technology or foresite to incorporate microwave safe material in the plates. So please DO NOT put any product made before 1979 (the first year that commercial microwave ovens were sold) into the microwave. They will, at best, crack and, at worst, explode.
38 years
The first microwave oven was built in 1945, as a proof of concept, by Percy Spencer.
The first commercial microwave was invented by Dr. Percy Spencer in 1946.
The main limitation of a sold state microwave device is its surroundings. The microwave tower needs to be tall enough to overcome trees and other objects getting in the way of transmission.
Over 900trillion are sold each year!
Many large variety stores sell oven microwave. Depending on your size requirements you will find an oen microwave of sufficient size there. If you need larger I would try a commercial version sold at restaurant suppliers.
Microwave Oven:The microwave oven was invented accidentally (did you ever notice that most great inventions or occurrences are accidents? 8>0 ) by Percy Spencer in Waltham, Massachusetts. Spencer was actually given the task of making magnetrons for radar sets for the Raytheon company, and he gave a microwave to them instead! The first microwave oven was presented to the public by the Raytheon Company in 1947, and it was a bulkier, much more energy consuming device that the modern one today, weighing 700 pounds! The ovens weren't very popular in the '50s and '60s, but in the early '70s, they sold faster than ice cream on a blazing day! In 1975, one MILLION microwaves were sold!! Typewriter:The first useful typewriter was made by Christopher Latham Sholes in 1868.