[Arran]

You might be able to fix that by adjusting a cup on the end of the tuning condenser shaft, I don't know about the tuning condensers used in Philco pan chassis sets but most tuning caps have an adjustment on the opposite end for adjusting lash. One end of the tuning condenser has a point on it, and this point rides in a cup that is threaded into the end plate, as well as a locking nut to hold the adjustment in place. I had to back one of those off on one set because the condenser had the opposite problem, it was really stiff and no about of solvent or oil would free it up, like it had one 99% of the others I had worked on.
Regards
Arran

P.S If you want to preserve the value of the set, at least historically, and want to include a fusei, nstall a fused plug, like the 38-690 used, rather then an automotive fuse holder. Ron got one from a farm supply, used for electric fences. The auto ones are not approved for use on 120 volt appliances, and look terrible under the chassis.