Servodyne Corporation Records
name: label: Creator
content: Servodyne Corporation
label: Collector
content: National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Information, Technology and Society
label: Donor
content: Gunnarson, John
topic: label: Topic
content: Microwave equipment industry
label: Topic
content: Microwave ovens
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Collection donated by John A. Gunnarson in 2003.
creator: label: Creator
content: Servodyne Corporation
setName: label: See more items in
content: Servodyne Corporation Records
abstract: label: Summary
content: 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.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: John Gunnarson, a former employee of Raytheon, formed the Servodyne Company (1960), which made prototypes of the microwave oven.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.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 1 Cubic foot (3 boxes)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1955-1971
custodhist: label: Custodial History
content: Collection transferred to the Archives Center from the Division of Information, Technology and Society (now the Division of Work and Industry) in 2003.
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.0839
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Articles
label: Type
content: Correspondence
label: Type
content: Design drawings
label: Type
content: Financial records
label: Type
content: Minutes
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: 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
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Collection processed by Holly Nelson.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Articles -- 1950-2000
label: Genre/Form
content: Correspondence -- 1950-2000
label: Genre/Form
content: Design drawings -- 1950-2000
label: Genre/Form
content: Financial records
label: Genre/Form
content: Minutes
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: 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.
separatedmaterial: label: Separated Materials
content: A prototype microwave is in the Division of Work and Industry. See Accession 2003.0107.01.