[Ron Ramirez]

The remote is not required for operation of the radio.

You will note that the volume control thumbwheel is not a conventional control. You push it up to turn the radio on and increase volume; push downward on the thumbwheel to decrease volume and/or turn the set off.

No, original batteries are no longer available, but you can roll your own if you have the proper connector. Bill Morris in Indy used to make reproduction batteries, but he no longer does this. Send a PM to Phorum member "mikethedruid" for advice - he has made at least one, perhaps more, reproduction batteries and he can tell you how to make one for yourself.

Finally - +1 on Arran's advice to replace the power transformer leads. You can use heat shrink tubing to resleeve each lead. You must do this as the 1939 Philco power transformers have wire leads with rubber-covered wires, and these are the most prone to drying out and crumbling. Ignore our advice and it is a question of when - not if - the power transformer shorts out. And that transformer has extra windings not used in non-Mystery Control Philco sets, so it is imperative to preserve the original if at all possible.