Build a Dim-Bulb tester, a tool that is absolutely ESSENTIAL for any old radio collector.
Materials required:
Lightbulb socket
Light bulb (about 1.2X the wattage of your radio)
Power outlet that fits your radio's plug
Wires
Extension cord (Should be able to plug into the outlet)
Wooden board big enough to mount everything on
Switch (Optional)
Procedure:
Cut the output head off of the extension cord. This is where the power comes out. Strip the large wire, then strip the 2 or 3 inside. Splice one of the wires of the corresponding color to the light socket, then splice the other to the corresponding color on the outlet. If there's an extra (ground) wire left, splice it to the ground terminal, or "mouth", of your outlet. Keep in mind you are going to want to pick one socket only to wire everything to, you can mark it later. Then solder the wires as you will, and then coat them with hot glue or your choice of non-conductive sealant so that they don't short. Now, take a wire and solder it between the loose connection on the outlet and the loose connection on the bulb. Repeat the sealing process and guess what? You're done with the circuit! Now, take a fully restored radio that you know works, and plug it into the socket you picked. Screw in a bulb roughly 1 to 1.2 times the wattage of your radio, and plug in the extension cord side. If you did it right, the light will be dim, and the radio will take a bit longer than usual, but it'll turn on. If you plug in a radio with a short or an inadequate bulb, the bulb will glow brightly and the radio will not power on.