[klondike98]

Welcome to the Phorum. As Morzh mentioned, that set is in pretty rough shape and is not an easy one for a first time restoration, but being a set that's been in your family I understand the interest. If you want to restore it yourself, you'll need to do some reading and learning or connect up with a radio club. There is one about 2 hours from you (see: http://maarc.org/former_site1/index.html )

Here's a place to start reading: http://www.antiqueradio.org/begin.htm

You can find a schematic here: http://www.nostalgiaair.org/Resources/414/M0013414.htm and http://www.nostalgiaair.org/PagesByModel...013415.pdf . Another place with perhaps clearer copy here: http://www.audiophool.com/Philco.html

A reproduction 8 button plastic escutcheon is available: http://www.radiodaze.com/product/1070.aspx as are the buttons http://www.radiodaze.com/product/1075.aspx .

Here's a YouTube video of how one fellow goes about restoring a much simpler radio but it should give you an idea of what you were asking with the "what makes it tic" question. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8wWw92HNZg

Explore the information available on this forum in the various sections and ask questions as you go.