How do flatbed microwave ovens work?

Basically the later I should think.

The one I had in the 1980s had a large aperture covered with mica on the roof of the cooking cavity. The Magnetron was at the side of the cavity with a brass wave guide leading up to the top. A squirrel-cage fan blows air up the wave guide and not only cools the Magnetron, but also rotates a paddle-wheel at the top, a rotating antenna, carrying multiple reflectors thar distribute the radiation throughout the cavity. I imagine modern bottom entry ones do a similar trick, but I have yet to work on one.

I didn't realise they were available in 1980. So why aren't they all like that? Does it add a lot to the price?

The one we had is in the last illustration on this page

I've still got the 170 page hard-back cookery book.

Bloody hell, those look like very well made and very expensive(?) products.

That looks quite a sophisticated one for the early 80s. We bought one around 1981 and it had just a simple turn and 'run back' timer. It did last about 17 years, with only a couple of O rings in the turn table drive. We only disposed of it as it started to look tatty.

We've had several since, none have lasted so well.

I once had a microwave that decided to run continuously for no reason, I think some water got through into the workings underneath. Maybe it was just the motor, but I couldn't be bothered as it was a cheap oven so I threw it out. I should have had a look inside.

I'm still using the Sharp I bought in 73 almost every day.

It does have a proper electronic control and display.

Never had to do a thing to it.

Corse now it will curl up and die and it will be your fault.

Whatever happened to Sharp, they still seem to be in business, but I haven't seen anything made by them for a decade or two.

Nothing special here.

Yep.

They arent as cheap as the worst crap but still buyable here.

Maybe here too, but I just haven't seen anyone with a Sharp device for 20 years. They used to be everywhere. AFAIK they were always midrange. Not overpriced like Sony, but decent. Something like LG.

Just checked a retailer here:

There's heaps here

"Rod Speed" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@mid.individual.net:

I recall a Phillips one in the 70's which had the controls and presumably the magnetron above the cavity. I don't think it had a turntable. One would suit me now as it woual be narrower.

I recall a Phillips one in the 70's which had the controls and presumably the magnetron above the cavity. I don't think it had a turntable. One would suit me now as it woual be narrower.

Yes, but how common are they compared to other makes?

I wonder if it rotated? How unevenly cooked would something be without rotation? Would conduction of heat make up for it? I guess somebody could try it by removing the turntable from a conventional microwave.