Hoping to get more info on the SSC! Just bought a clean, fully functional 3-5285A from eBay. Beautiful radio! Great sound for its size. Feature rich and solid build quality. Anyone know the original MSRP? I’m guessing around $150? I compared it side by side to my 3-5252A, ($99 MSRP) and the 3-5285A SSC radio clearly had better sound quality despite its speakers being a full inch smaller. Looks like GE started introducing SSC around 1980 or so. As per Chat GPT: GE’s Silver Signature Collection of portable radios was marketed as a higher-end line compared to their regular portable radios, and it generally featured better sound quality and enhanced specifications. Known for a more premium build, these radios used higher-quality materials, including metal accents and better plastic housings. The design was meant to convey a sense of durability and sophistication. The Silver Signature Collection was designed for users who valued better sound quality, superior reception, and refined aesthetics, making them a step above the regular line of GE portables. From my research - it looks like GE had two compact cassette recorders, one micro cassette recorder, and three boomboxes in the collection. The BBX models were 3-5285A, 3-5280, and 3-5286. Were there other products in the collection? Please post any original ads, models, original packaging, accessories, and anything else you know about SSC. In no particular order, here’s some pics I found: Philips version of the 3-5285A
Also - can anyone tell me what the odd round holes on the chrome side handles are for? Is it for some kind of proprietary carry strap? If so, anyone one have one or even a pic of one?
It's really hard to find anything on GE's Boomboxes, this is the first I've heard of the SSC. You might be able to find more information in the newspaper ad thread. I've got the 3-5256A which has to be one of the first from GE, the 3-6025A, the 3-5219A and the big flat one with digital tuning. Great units that are all much heavier than they look. I don't know what the little ear is for, somebody around here should.
GE is my favorite brand, followed closely by Realistic and Panasonic. My first boombox was the 3-5252A back in 1982. $99.00 at GEE BEE, purchased with my own money at age 13. I remember buying it for its build quality. Over 40 years later, it still looks and plays like new! I just recently stumbled across the SSC with the purchase of the 3-5285A. Played with it for a few min after unpacking it and it felt “special”. Decidedly upscale aesthetics and unusually upscale features for such a small radio…and great sound for its size. A couple hours on the Internet turned up the SSC which it’s part of. You could play it off to clever marketing, but the plethora of LED lit functions, features, sound quality, and chrome goodness says otherwise. Wondering who the OEM is considering there’s a nearly identical Philips version. Not a lot of info out there on GE or the SSC. I’ve been scouring all the ads but not much luck so far.
Anytime I see made in Taiwan or Hong Kong, I assume it's "a la carte" meaning they buy from different suppliers and then one company puts all the parts together, boxes it up and sends the buyer a few skids of product. When I was a tape tech in the late 90's, we had a ton of catalogs of boomboxes you could order that they would slap your branding on. GE, being a multi-national electronics company, most likely had a bunch of options to get these to market. The early model I have, the 3-5256A, has a few other AKA's but most of the line looks exclusive. I don't know if I have a favorite manufacturer, there's so many unique designs unlike modern design where everything looks the same.
Here's mine! I love all those silver GE's, well made & beautifully designed! This was before I cleaned it up like new!
Very nice! Mine cleaned up like new as well. Tapes play strong with no issues and the tuner really locks and holds a station. Remarkable for an all-original 43 year old radio! I wonder who produced the 3-5285A for GE? Top shelf build and sound quality! Side question - I see a lot of letter designations after GE model numbers for the same radio. For example, the 3-5252 has an “A” model, and also a “B” and “C” model. The A and B appear 100% identical. The “C” is nearly identical in appearance but is lighter weight and missing some features. Some GE radios carry an “A” designation, with no known “B” variant. Has anyone figured this out?
Mine came from the states, Kentucky If I remember right! I just had to have it when I saw it on eBay! Loved it's look straight away & dual voltage too was a bonus!
Just looking over ebay listings.... 3.5252A Four sliding switches, MIC input 3-5252B Four sliding Switches, MIC input 3-5252C Three sliding Switches but same functionality. Three switches are merged into two. No external MIC inputs. Here's the FCC Filing, nothing really interesting except the date of filing is 3/23/83 https://apps.fcc.gov/eas/GetEas731Report.do?applicationId=/6Ipix2cgvMsuup/tLkGtQ==&fcc_id=AKJ9W83-52521 The FCC is for any AM/FM radio products in the USA. This is listed as OEM, all three were made in Singapore. You can find some of my newspaper clippings from back then, Singapore was a hot manufacturing base for similar audio with a ton of specialized companies that could make whatever component or part you wanted.
Wow Wow! Thanks for the info. Interestingly, I had the C variant about 10 years ago. It was a lot lighter than the A I still own. I remember thinking they cheapened it bc it felt notably lighter to me. I don’t remember if there was a difference in sound quality. I obsess a little over the 3-5252 bc it was my first boombox. You’re spot on w the info on A, B, and C. I have not been able to tell any difference at all between the A and the B model. I never saw the FCC info before! TY!
