Artifact Details

Description

The HP 200C, introduced in 1940, was an evolution of the HP 200A. The 200C extended the first range down to 20 Hertz and added a fourth range to cover up to 200 kHz.

The HP 200A Audio Oscillator was the first Test and Measurement instrument made by Hewlett Packard in 1939. It was manufactured in David Packard's garage in Palo Alto, CA. The product number was chosen to give the impression that Hewlett Packard was an established company with multiple products. Walt Disney bought eight HP200A units for use in the production of the movie "Fantasia".

The prototype for the HP200A was built by Bill Hewlett for his Stanford University thesis project in 1938. It used a Wein bridge, resistance tuned oscillator covering from 35 Hz to 35,000 Hz in 3 ranges. Innovations in the tuned circuit included using a 3 Watt light bulb to stabilize the output.

See catalog record 102626580 for internal images of a HP 200C audio oscillator.

Manufacturer

Hewlett-Packard Company

Identifying Numbers

Model number

200C

Dimensions

overall: 7 in x 19 in x 10 in

Category

Test equipment

Credit

Gift of Steve Hayes

Lot Number

X8831.2019