Electron tubes used in radar systems in military aircraft now in Vietnam and in revolutionary microwave cooking stems are being manufactured at the Litton Electron Tube Division at the Litton Industries, 1035 Westminster Drive.

In this way the firm is following the path by the leaders of the industry who have counseled for the way for the industry which has been geared to national defense to survive is to adapt its skills it has acquired in this field to peacetime consumer needs.

Long in the manufacture of magnetrons, the main component of radar systems, the area plant is now entering into the manufacture of microtron tubes, which the company believes will revolutionize food preparation as well as various processes in industry requiring heating.

Since Litton acquired the plant from Sylvania Electric Products Inc. on January 15, its primary objective has been to improve and expand the line of products made by the Sylvania plant.

The plant employs 325, many of them highly skilled technicians.

The Williamsport plant is one of five Flextron Tube Division, the other four, including the headquarters and research division are located at San Carlos, California.

Moving now into the production of the microtron, the company plans to expand its production through manufacture of this tube and other devices developed for the civilian market.

Although it now occupies 70,000 square feet of the plant, which has a total area of approximately 200,000 square feet, Litton eventually hopes to occupy the entire facility. Part of the plant is still maintained by Sylvania which has warehousing and finishing operations there.

Although use of the microwave oven in the average home is a few years off, one major manufacturer of kitchen incorporates a three-unit—microwave oven, conventional oven and burners model for the consumer market.