That update you quoted was about the new vibrator, the NOS vibrator was dead too, and I tried "shocking" it back to life and it wouldn't work, and I'm not sure what else to try because apparently it's not responding to low voltage AC current shocks, or physical shocks (light tapping).

You don't need to be gentle. Bang it harder till it starts to dent then back off a tad so you don't dent it worse.

Well I just was trying to make sure I didn't break it, because I paid almost $40 for that thing including shipping. But I can try to hit it harder now.

I'd be tempted to just convert it to AC operation! You'd have to provide a DC source for the audio tube and related circuitry for the bias.
The rest of the tubes, the heaters can use AC.

I was thinking of that too but that might be a lot more work than I want to try and tackle.