Bill Hewlett (1913-2001) and Dave Packard (1912-1996) graduated from Stanford as electrical engineers in 1935. They got acquainted during their university years, and started their company in a garage in Palo Alto at the time of the Great Depression, when both of them were still attending post-graduate studies. HP is still headquartered in Palo Alto, though in a more pleasant environment.
However, 1st January 1939 is the official date of the foundation of their firm, which they started with an investment of 538 US dollars. They could not agree whether their business should be named Hewlett-Packard or Packard-Hewlett. In the end, a flip of the coin decided, and as agreed the winner would have the choice of ordering their names. Dave won, and gave the name to their firm, which transformed into a public limited company on 6 November 1957. Initially, the company focussed on electronic products for agriculture and industry, then concentrated on high-quality test and measurement instruments. Their first product to become a success was the precision audio oscillator HP200A, and its versions with tube-based improvements were sold until 1972. Walt Disney Company was one of their very first customers.
HP to gain worldwide reputation with its PCs and printers is also recognised as the founder of Silicon Valley, although it did not actively engage in the development of semiconductors before Fairchild Semiconductor was founded in 1957. Their HP Associates division, established around 1960, manufactured semiconductors mainly for internal use for HP’s own instruments and calculators.
In the 1960s, HP used minicomputers manufactured by Digital Equipment Corporation, before deciding to set up their own designer team. HP made an entry into the computer market in 1966 with the HP 2100/ HP 1000 series. Wired magazine identifies HP9100A, introduced in 1968, to be HP’s first commercially sold personal computer.
In1984 HP introduced their inkjet and laser printers as well as embarked on manufacturing scanners. In the 1990s, HP’s product range was expanded, and HP merged with Compaq in 2002. HP widened their opportunities by further acquisitions (EDS, 3com, Palm) in the last decade. HP remains one of the leading IT company giants today.
