description William Hewlett Overview
William Hewlett was an American engineer and technology pioneer who co-founded the Hewlett-Packard Company alongside David Packard in 1939. He designed the HP 200A, a precision variable-frequency audio oscillator that became the company's first commercially successful product. Hewlett's engineering expertise and management philosophy helped establish the innovative corporate culture that came to be known as the "HP Way." His work in electronic test equipment and computing technology established him as a foundational figure in the development of Silicon Valley.
help William Hewlett FAQ
Who did William Hewlett co-found Hewlett-Packard with?
William Hewlett co-founded the Hewlett-Packard Company alongside his friend and Stanford University classmate David Packard in 1939. They started the technology company in a small garage in Palo Alto, California. This location is now widely celebrated as the birthplace of Silicon Valley.
What was Hewlett-Packard's first commercially successful product?
William Hewlett himself designed the HP 200A, a precision variable-frequency audio oscillator, which became the company's first major product. The innovation used a small lightbulb as a temperature-stabilizing resistor, making it far cheaper and more reliable than competitors. The Walt Disney Company famously purchased several of these oscillators for the production of the film Fantasia.
How did William Hewlett and David Packard decide on their company's name?
The founders famously decided the company's name by flipping a coin to determine whose name would go first. William Hewlett won the toss, resulting in the name Hewlett-Packard rather than Packard-Heward. This casual, collaborative decision set the tone for their famous management style, known as "The HP Way."
What was William Hewlett's role during World War II?
During World War II, Hewlett served on active duty in the United States Army, working on the technical staff of the Signal Corps. He also spent time in the special operations section, applying his engineering expertise to military technology. David Packard ran the business back in California, where HP's production heavily shifted to military contracts.
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