The Creation of Hewlett-Packard

Dave Packard and Bill Hewlett agreed to establish a joint venture at their first formal business meeting, held on August 23, 1937. According to the minutes recorded that day, the two men agreed that their mission would involve designing and manufacturing electronics, but “the question of what to manufacture was postponed.” The proposed name for the new company was “The Engineering Service Company.” Bill and Dave would form their business in 1939. Noel “Ed” Porter, who was also present at the 1937 meeting, would become a vice president of Hewlett-Packard Company.