Hewlett Packard HP 200AB Audio Oscillator – Museum-Grade Historic Instrument
Year First Appeared
1952
Creator
William R. Hewlett, Brunton Bauer, Bernard M. Oliver
Hewlett‑Packard’s HP 200AB is a low‑distortion laboratory audio oscillator introduced in 1952 that generates pure sine‑wave tones for testing amplifiers and audio equipment, covering a 20 Hz to 40 kHz frequency range.
Importance in Internet Culture
The 200AB’s lineage, rooted in HP’s early oscillator sales to Disney and the famed HP Garage, underscores the instrument’s role in fostering the Silicon Valley environment that eventually produced the internet and web culture.
Interesting Fact
When launched, the Model 200AB was priced at $120 USD and featured an internal output impedance of approximately 75 Ω below 20 kHz, enabling a stable 24.5 V RMS output into standard lab loads.