[morzh]

So I went, bough the grommets (took some grommets plus some spacers - this small cap has surprisingly thick grommets), installed the tuning cap, checked the tubes - all  tested very good, assembled the radio, checked the transformer output, then put the rectifier in.
As I said, I left the electrolytics alone, they seemed good.

Turned it on, brought it slowly to 80V, then to 110V.

It started whistling but attempted the reception. Eventually I had some, than it went away.
It would start when I touched the cap's rotor and then go away as I released.
This prompted me that I forgot to solder the GND mesh wire to the cap.

After that it was all good.
Even the local station which is 1140 AM is...at 1140 AM. Considering the coils were rewound...not bad!

OK, it is singing. Or, rather, speaking - there is no music anywhere nearby somehow for now.

Last thing I did before I decided I have done enough today - blasted the band switch with Deoxit - it is scratchy and at the Police band the reception could come and then disappear and return after rocking the switch. BC band is solid though.

More pics:

The innyrds of the power switch: you can see the soot-covered contact.
   

And the rest:

   
   
   
   


Alignment tomorrow.