[DavidK]

Thanks, Rod!  Yes, my wife says I have two speeds:  Off and Full Throttle.  

I've see some of those cap ratings and it does look like Darwin's Theories could quickly thin me from the herd.     Hanging onto the suspended power cord over my father's workbench when the plug end came off was a "unique" feeling (as a young lad).  But 110 AC is at least nice enough to cycle phases and give your muscle a brief chance to let go.  I believe DC is NOT that "forgiving".     A friend of mine who has some EE background tried to remind me of the "One hand in your pocket at all times." rule, but I had never heard that before...yet I sort of understand what it means.  

I've probed the big black transformer (separated from the chassis) and found something like 400 VAC, 5.6 VAC, and 7.8 VAC.  According to the Parts Catalog from 1939 it should be 636, 5.0, and 6.7 so is this "drift" a sign of age/degradation?   The 5.6 at least lets me see my replacement 6.3 V dial bulb light up.  The schematic I've seen only have resistance values (as far as I can tell).

But, I think what you are telling me is that (with some internal/tube "magic") the Audio Signal (red/black to me) is "interleaved" in two different "input" voltage pins and the other "return" ground pin?  I was thinking these would be AC on the wires from the main chassis to the speaker and then split/transformed on the "basket".