For more than 70 years, Torrence Sound Equipment Company has been keeping pace with constant technological change. Henry Torrence founded the firm in 1928 as Torrence Radio Company to sell and service the latest technology -- radio. The firm also specialized in the cutting-edge innovation of radios installed in cars. Torrence Radio Company quickly became known as northwest Ohio’s premier source for design, installation and maintenance of many types of sound systems including early Public Address systems; sound amplification for theaters, restaurants and churches; and specialized radiotelephone communications systems for both domestic and wartime use.

During World War II, ten German POWs were transported each day from nearby Camp Perry under the watch of an Armed guard. Because trained technical labor was in short supply, these prisoners were employed by Torrence as part-timers. They sat each day around a large bench on the second floor of the downtown Toledo shop repairing radios.

After the war, Torrence designed and installed TV antennas and TV distribution systems for apartments and office buildings. The towers had to be tall because Toledo did not yet have any TV stations, and the signals had to be pulled in from Detroit, 50 miles away.

In the 1950’s, Torrence continued to ride the wave of technological change by adding closed circuit television to its array of products, and quickly became the largest installer of CCTV systems in northwest Ohio. The company was incorporated as Torrence Sound in 1955. Glen Torrence, the son of the founder, was appointed secretary-treasurer in 1956, and was for many years responsible for supervising all sound system installations for the firm.