Picked this up just now for practically nothing.
In need another project like a hole in the head but I couldn’t pass up this space age design.
Anything special I should know about this model before I get started. There’s a small crack which appears easily repairable. The eBay post says plastic but the 1953 ad says this is black Bakelite???
Bakelite is the first plastic made from synthetic components, developed in 1907. Your description of the eBay post sounds typical of the many sellers who don't really know anything about what they are selling.
eBay sellers mostly have no clue what they are about. Right - this seems a standard AA5 design. I plan to leave this as us and not rewire the power switch etc. I’ll add a polarized plug, probably restuff the power supply cap for space reasons and just do the standard cap/resistor checks and replacement.
Can’t think of anything else really needs to be done other than stabilizing that crack and polishing the case.
Just sort of a cool looking design - the other 1953 models were not nearly this Space Age looking. I see these repainted in wild colors but I’ll leave it as found.
Got to thinking I know. Those 7xx tubes can be hard to remove without damage to the tube socket I like to spray some WD 40 on the lock in the center and give it a few days to work its mojo. Great place for tube info. https://frank.pocnet.net
I'd say yes Bakelite, should be a good AM player, I had a different set with very similar chassis, excellent player and sensitive, then it fell of a five foot shelf into oblivion..... Paul
Those 7xx tubes can be hard to remove without damage to the tube socket I like to spray some WD 40 on the lock in the center and give it a few days to work its mojo. Great place for tube info. 
