#5. HP200A

Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard

Release Year: 1939

The world’s leading PC manufacturer, HP was founded by Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard, graduates from Stanford University in 1935. In 1939, Packard and Hewlett started the company in Packard’s garage under an initial capital of $538. It’s said that initially the company was rather unfocused as their inventions ranged from industrial electronic products to even agricultural products. In 1939, HP successfully launched their first product, which was a precision audio oscillator. Hewlett and Packard called it the HP200A. The idea was to improve the usage of small incandescent light bulb by implementing it in a critical portion of the circuit as it can act as a temperature dependent resistor. The product was so successful among consumers as it was sold for a mere $54.40 as other less stabilized oscillators were sold for over $200. This model continued till early 1970’s until the new Model 200AB was introduced.