[Arran]

 Pardon me but I haven't a clue where your wife ever got that idea, the table battery models are usually the same size as any other table models, many were smaller since there was no need to make room for a power transformer, rectifier tube, or filter caps. There is the odd one that had a little extra depth, or a shelf, for an A/B battery pack, but we are talking about maybe 3'' here, those were made from the late 1930s onward after they came out with the low current 1.4 volt battery tubes, think of a suitcase portable's extra dimensions but with a nicer cabinet. In terms of console sets the only difference is that they had a shelf in the bottom of the cabinet bellow the speaker, something the AC sets would not have, but that is unused space in every console anyhow.
Regards
Arran