Orvac Electronics was started in the summer of 1958 by Lino “Leo” Vaccher (1929-2005). Lino found it was easier to use his nickname Leo for everyone to easily pronounce and remember. From then on, Lino became known as “Leo”. After returning from the Korean War, Leo was involved in a variety of different jobs from piloting boats up at Lake Arrowhead, to working at a gas station, to installing antennas for people so they could watch television. Leo saw this new technology called “television” as something that was going to be very popular in the future. In the mid 1950’s, the television market was growing rapidly and Leo saw a great opportunity to be involved in this new market. Prior to opening Orvac, Leo worked for various Electronic Dealers which included Fullerton Electronics. In the summer of 1958, after returning from a fishing trip, Leo had the unfortunate experience of learning exactly what it meant to be a minority owner in a company. The small business that he was a partner in was sold while he was off fishing. In August of 1958, Leo started Orvac Electronics. Orvac’s name came from “Or” representing the first two letters in Orange County and “vac” for the first three letters in Leo’s last name “Vaccher.”
 
Orvac started out selling television antennas and tubes. The electronics market in the 1950’s and 1960’s was primarily geared toward T.V. dealers. Initially, Orvac remained closed to the public and sold exclusively only to television dealers. The television market was booming and everyone either wanted a new television or needed one repaired. Orvac’s initial success was due to the abundance of television tubes and antennas that were sold. Television tubes needed replacing every year or so depending on usage. There was a great demand for the consumable tubes.

Of course, Leo needed good people to help run this growing business. Gino Bortolussi, Leo’s brother-in-law, started working with Orvac in 1965. Gino is still actively involved in the business today. Don Sell started with Orvac in 1967 and eventually became the General Manager until 1995 when he suddenly passed away. Throughout Orvac’s history, there have been many great people involved that have provided a path to help Orvac continue to grow and prosper.
 
Orvac continued to grow but it wasn’t until it went open door, that is Orvac sold to the general public that business started to really prosper. Opening to a larger market, anyone could buy the parts to repair their TV’s or radios and put up there own TV antennas. By the late 1960’s and early 1970’s the electronics market was changing rapidly. Orvac was now selling semiconductors, belts for record players and eight tracks, bulbs, tools, test equipment and a wide variety of other items. Orvac got into the consumer markets by selling Televisions, radios, turntables, CB radios and home speakers.

Leo purchased a 20,000 sq ft building in 1972 were Orvac still resides. This gave Orvac plenty of room for expansion. From the mid 70’s to the mid 80’s Orvac continued to grow and rapidly fill its current facility. The electronics industry was and still is one of the fastest growing industries in the country. Orvac continued to adapt to what the customers wanted and needed. Business was shifting from the old TV tubes and antennas to more semiconductors, memory chips, test equipment, speakers, 2-way radios, antennas, and a wide variety of other electronic items. Orvac had dropped most of the consumer items like Televisions and stereo’s by the early 1980’s and concentrated on the electronic parts, test equipment, and commercial sound markets. The late 80’s saw growth in the 12V or aftermarket automobile electronics market. Orvac still kept to its then core business which was the repair and the replacement markets. Orvac did maintain its diversity with many other products like test equipment, chemicals, relays, soldering equipment, the new fast growing computer parts market, prototyping products, hand tools, audio & video cables and wire.

In the summer of 1986 both of Leo’s sons had started to work full time in the business. Lino better known as “LJ” & Gino Vaccher trained under the then current management and had learned a great deal from the many years of experience that the Orvac employees had acquired over the years. LJ still remains as Orvacs’ current President and Gino is pursuing other interests but is sometimes brought back in to work on specific projects.

The 90’s were booming with the computer markets out pacing most industries in the United States. Almost everyone needed cables and accessories to hook up and network their computers. Orvac has always maintained its diversity in the electronics industry. While always trying to focus on up and coming markets Orvac still caters to the industrial, commercial, educational, home do it yourselfer, government, and home theater customers. The computer and networking marketing started surging and there was much growth in this and related markets. Commercial sound was growing as new businesses opened or remodeled and were in the need of paging and background music. Semiconductors and relays were growing due to the demand for replacement parts and industrial growth. Wire was used everywhere from the industrial markets to data networking and home theater and home automation markets.

The turn of the century marked Orvac's 42 years in business. In the last 40+ years there had been so many changes in the electronics market that it would be hardly recognizable from that first summer of 1958. The 21st Century has come fast and furious with many changes. The one thing about the electronics market is that it moves very rapidly. While we don’t necessarily carry consumer items we do sell a lot of the related items like batteries, cables, speakers, connectors and adaptors. We have also seen much growth in the industrial markets. We are selling into specific industries were we can be competitive and where customers are looking for local inventory. Orvac has always tried to fit the niche of having fair prices with local inventory. The internet has many people shopping online but we see our local customers wanting their products now, today. They need local inventory for that. They want to see, feel and touch there products and they want them today. We find ourselves stocking more products on the shelves and in our warehouse. In fact we have added another 10,000 sq ft. warehouse, which is actually very full, so we can buy the good deals and pass them on to our customers.

In 2005 Orvac has expanded into the Los Angles market. We have opened a new store in Pasadena called Duvac electronics. Duvac was built to cater to the Industrial, Commercial, and Contractor markets. We saw a great need that needed to be filled in the Pasadena area market. We strive to bring local inventory to those customers who need there products today.
Orvac still remains a local store where customers can come in and find the items they are looking for at great prices. I have failed to mention that we have a large variety of surplus items. We buy deals from all over and across many different markets from wire, to solar cells, to data racks. Currently you had to come in to find these gems but very soon we will offer them online so those cyber folks can take advantage of our large surplus inventory.

A great part of Orvac’s history has been its employee’s who service our customers daily. We recognize that without great people to service and take care of our customers we would not be here today. I could go on and list all the past and present employee’s that have made a huge impact on Orvac’s growth but, that would take up a list that would be to big to have you read it here. Orvac needed the vision of a leader but it is the people that work at it daily that have made it possible for us to be here today.

Orvac has now been in business for 50 years. We have seen many trends and many people come and go, but we are still here to bring our customers the very best service and to exceed there expectations as an Electronics Distributor. We hope to be around another 50 years with satisfied customers.