[Arran]

 I'm sure the metal parts were quite well made, A.K was well equipped to manufacture much of that, even had their own plating department, but some things, like the resistors with the metal ends, are a throwback to the 20s construction wise. It's not that I like rubber wire but the underside of that 808A is much less of a nightmare then that cheaper 6 tube model, but I think it's older as well, 1933 verses 1935, and it looks like they took a few notes from RCA/G.E about how to shield coils. As for the tube sockets, I don't tend to get to excited about wafer socket construction as a rule, even though everybody seems to have used them, including Stromberg Carlson.
 Other then the Capeharts, Magnavox, and McMurdo Silver sets I don't think most of these were intended to be in service more then 20 years after they bought them. Speaking of rubber wire, that stuff was starting to parish by the middle 1950s, I have an article from a repairman talking about overhauling a late 20s early 30s majestic, it may have been a 90, and the rubber had dried up and turned to dust even by that time.
Regards
Arran