06-22-2014, 09:29 PM
Unfortunately you almost always do need to rewire these sets. Even if it does not need it now once he starts changing capacitors, resistors, or starts poking around the insulation will start falling off unless is still flexible by some chance. One thing I know about early 1940s Philcos is that the rubber/gutta percha covered crap runs up into the IF cans, so that should be replaced at the very least if it's brittle.
Regards
Arran
Regards
Arran