A new oscilloscope design is the first to use a new sampling technique to view the faster digital waveforms used in computer technology.

HP establishes its first U.S. manufacturing plant outside of Palo Alto in Loveland, Colorado.

HP is listed on the New York Stock Exchange's "big board" for the first time March 17, 1961.

For the first time, HP makes Fortune magazine's list of the top 500 U.S. companies.

First joint venture is formed (with Yokogawa Electric Works): Yokogawa Hewlett-Packard (YHP) in Tokyo, Japan. By 1963, overseas sales already account for 18 percent of HP's business.

The first synthesizer to generate electrical signal at a precise frequency is introduced, doing the work of a whole battery of instruments with greater accuracy. The 5100A is used for automated testing, advanced communications systems and communications with deep-space vehicles.

HP celebrates its 25th anniversary.

Dave Packard is elected CEO and chairman of the board; Bill Hewlett elected president.

Highly accurate HP 5060A cesium-beam time standard is introduced. The highly accurate HP 5060A cesium-beam atomic clocks gain worldwide recognition as the "flying clocks" when they are flown from Palo Alto to Switzerland to compare time as maintained by the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C. to time at the Swiss Observatory in Neuchatel.

HP Laboratories is formed, which would eventually become Agilent Labs. HP’s central research facility is one of the world’s leading electronics industry research centers. At HP Labs' inception, primary areas of research include solid state physics, physical electronics, electronics, and medical and chemical electronics instruments. Today, Verigy continues this tradition of conducting and sponsoring basic research through Verigy Virtual Laboratories.

HP 2116A, HP’s first computer, is designed as a controller for test and measurement instruments.

First all-solid-state component oscillator is introduced. Its small size, light weight and large screen make it easy to use in lab, field or production work.

President Lyndon B. Johnson appoints Bill Hewlett to the nation's Science Advisory Committee (he serves until 1969).

The Boeblingen facility introduces a non-invasive fetal heart monitor that detects fetal distress during labor.

PThe Boeblingen plant pioneers the concept of flexible working hours, an idea adopted at HP manufacturing facilities around the world. The program allows employees to arrive early or late to work as long as they work a standard number of hours. In Dave's words "To my mind, flextime is the essence of respect for and trust in people." The concept is later instituted throughout HP's U.S. facilities in 1973.

Dave is appointed U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense. (He serves from 1969 to 1971.) He uses his management skills to reinvent cumbersome processes and introduce new efficiencies in military procurement. Upon accepting the appointment, Dave resigns from HP, and Bill becomes CEO, running HP in Dave's absence.