[Brad Winder]

So, the 38-643 was a battery set, and so what I think you have is the original chassis converted to electric. Very common to find battery sets done this way, after electricity came to a rural area in the late 30's and 40's. Usually octal sockets were installed and either 6 or 12 volt tubes (12 volts common after the war) were used, and the set was "rebuilt" as a transformerless AC/DC configuration.

I've seen some done very well by radio shops in the day, and others butchered by "the local handyman"