Scientific Instruments at HP

Hewlett-Packard began by offering instruments for engineering and scientific research. These devices, including the initial oscilloscopes designed by Bill Hewlett, offered unmatched accuracy and reliability and were crucial in first establishing Hewlett-Packard’s reputation for innovation and quality. The company continued to focus heavily on instruments for decades. Indeed, when the company eventually entered the market for computers and related technology, it was as an offshoot of the company’s instruments business. A tour through the devices in this collection reveals the ways in which Hewlett-Packard was a tech leader long before the advent of the computer revolution.