What is the name of the Tappan employee who invented the microwave
oven in the 1950s?

Percy LeBaron Spencer, a Raytheon employee, holds the patent, filed in
October 1945 and granted in 1950, (U.S. patent 2,495,429). Tappan
produced the first domestic microwave oven in the early 1950s.

Ian G.

hello b2cool,
...After the war, in 1946, a Raytheon Company engineer(not a tappan
eng.) named Dr. Percy Spencer invented the microwave owen...Raytheon
succeeded in building the oven, but it was very large. After all, the
1940's were not known for miniaturization of electronics....In 1952,
Tappan introduced the first home model at the very low price of just
$1295!

Detailed information at:

  http://home.nycap.rr.com/useless/microwaves/

E.S.