http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HP
http://www.brochureforyou.com/?p=1302
http://www.hpl.hp.com/news/2006/janmar/40anniversary.html?jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN HP

William (Bill) Hewlett and David (Dave) Packard both graduated in electrical engineering from Stanford University in 1935. The partnership was formalized on, 1939 with an investment of US $538.[9] Hewlett and Packard tossed a coin to decide whether the company they founded would be called Hewlett-Packard or Packard-Hewlett. Packard won the coin toss but named their electronics manufacturing enterprise the "Hewlett-Packard Company". HP built-in August 8, 1947, and went public on November 6, 1957.