Lewis Napleton

(active c. 1960-1980), microwave author

Just out of the RAF, Lewis Napleton joined the food manufacturing and tea-shop-owning firm of J. Lyons in the early ’50s. He was soon closely involved in microwave projects during his pupillage there. He went on to devote the rest of his professional life to the promotion and sale of microwave ovens by Lyons, Philips, and the American firm of Litton, where he was the former leader of the European sales team.

He has had six books published about modern commercial and domestic food service topics, on which he has also been a prolific freelance author of technical subjects for many publications.

Related Documents

Photograph (black and white) of two men, one of the men being Lewis Napleton (on right) who is pointing to a piece of Philips machinary whist the other man holds a handle on the machine; handwritten in graphite on verso reads ' In 1970 - LN with Roy Goodwin - Catering Advior(?) to the Electricity Council at launch of ill-fated [illegiable] project. Negative no. F1182

Photograph (black and white) of Lewis Napleton (right) and Roy Goodwin
Newspaper clipping from page 41 of the publication Caterer & Hotelkeeper, an article on microwave cooking. Lewis Napleton and Paul Bocuse are quoted. The article includes a black & white photograph of Lewis Napleton gesticulating towards five microwaves. Caption reads 'Lewis Napleton of Litton is author of a leading book on microwave cooking'. Verso includes advertisments for National Panasonic Microwave Ovens and Merrychef Microwave catering

Newspaper clipping of an article on microwave cooking from page 41 of the publication 'Caterer & Hotelkeeper'. Quotes from Lewis Napleton and Paul Bocuse.
Photocopy (on A4 white paper) of a feature page titled 'People - who has moved where' profiling several people in the hospitality industry including 'The Microwave Expert', Lewis Napleton; printed in the publication 'Hospitality', page 20.

Photocopy of a feature page titled 'People - who has moved where' profiling several people in the hospitality industry including 'The Microwave Expert', Lewis Napleton; printed in the publication 'Hospitality', page 20
Articles and industry publications relating to the early days of commercial and domestic microwave development and use

Articles and industry publications relating to the early days of commercial and domestic microwave development and use
Company newpaper PEN [Philips Electrical News: A Newspaper for Philips Electrical People]; published by the Press Office, Philips Electrical Ltd., Century House, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2. Printed by Q B Ltd., Colchester. Editor Barry Whitehead. First issue no. 1. Eight pages, Page 8 article titled 'It was a night to remember! Microwave gala at the Hilton' in London. Black & white pictures include Mr. Lewis Napleton, Product Manager of Philips Microwave Group. Front page; written in blue ink 'L.A.N' [Lewis Napleton]

Company newpaper PEN [Philips Electrical News: A Newspaper for Philips Electrical People]; Page 8 article titled 'It was a night to remember! Microwave gala at the Hilton' in London.
Newpaper clipping of a review of 'The Microwave Recipe Book By Lewis Napleton' by Ralph Coombes. Annotation in black pen reads 'CT 29/9/77' [Catering Times]. Verso article titled 'No galley slaves' and a black & white photograh of two women. Caption reads 'Annie Ashby and Sue Wadham on board the narrow boat Bunyip'

Newpaper clipping of a review of 'The Microwave Recipe Book By Lewis Napleton' by Ralph Coombes
Photocopy (on A4 white paper) of an article titled 'Mr Microwave spreads his wings', profiling Lewis Napleton; printed in the publication 'Hospitality', page 7.

Photocopy of an article titled 'Mr Microwave spreads his wings', profiling Lewis Napleton; printed in the publication 'Hospitality', page 7.
Twelve-paged paper titled 'Ready Steady Beanzawave it!' produced by the company Heinz to promote the Beanzawave, the 'world's smallest microwave'. Printed in colour on white A4 paper. The paper includes specifications for microwave components and images of the Beanzawave in use. Also included is an image of a MicroWare plate (one full page), information and image of Young's Microwave Ocean Pie (one full page) and information and illustrations of Young's microfoil packaging.

Paper titled 'Ready Steady Beanzawave it!' produced by the company Heinz to promote the Beanzawave, the 'world's smallest microwave'
Photograph (black and white) of sixteen people in Royal Air Force uniform, as well as a dog ( possibly a spanial). Above the image is printed 'Royal Air Force, Hereford. No. 2 School of Admin: Trades. No. 1 Wing'. Below the image is printed 'Vivian of Hereford; Clerk General Duties. No. 42 Copy Typist Course. Class B From 11-1-51 To 18-4-51'. Below this text is a list of names identifying the individuals in the picture. Lewis Napleton is identified as AC [Air Craftsman] Napleton, centre backrow

Photograph (black and white) of sixteen people in Royal Air Force uniform. Lewis Napleton is identified as AC [Air Craftsman] Napleton, centre backrow
Fold over broacher-design booklet for 'The National Hotel Pub Club and Catering Show 1989' at the G-Mex Greater Manchester Exhibition Centre on 26-28 September 1989. Includes a floorplan of the G-Mex and location numbers for the various stands. The booklet promotes companies to book stands for the show.

Booklet publication advertising 'The National Hotel and Pub Club and Catering Show 1989' at the G-Mex in Manchester on 26-28 September 1989
Four page in-house publication for Litton Microwave Cooking Products Ltd; booklet, newsletter-style layout with features concerning wages, international distributors, microwave cooking products and packaging. Also contains a small feature on Lewis 'Lew' Napleton announcing that Litton UK are the market leaders in the commercial microwave business.

Publication of 'Microwave News' (volume 2, no. 2) , Summer 1975, London

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