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The wire underneath doesn't belong. It's not even the right kind of wire for a radio of that era. If I were to jump to conclusions, I'd say someone tapped off the audio out for feeding into some other appliance with a larger amplifier. Or possibly as a signal-in from a phonograph, to play it through the radio speaker. Or possibly somebody retarded made a guitar amp. I'd remove it immediately.
The markings on tubes this old are sandblast-etched into the glass and will withstand being cleaned up. Windex is fine, or just water. Dampen a paper towel just a little and rub. No need to soak anything -- water and electricity never did mix. The results will be most pleasing. Nothing makes an old radio chassis sparkle like clean glass, and baking old dust smells bad too. Keep a black sharpie with you in case the number does rub off, but it really won't. If it does, clean one tube at a time and write the number back on when you're done.
You haven't mentioned whether you can test the tubes individually. If you don't have a tube tester, you might try the next local radio-club meet or hamfest, you might be able to test them there. Or there's always that eBay place if you want to own one yourself. Most of the tube testers out there don't test tubes that old though, so keep that in mind -- you'll have to find one that does. If any of the tubes are bad, the same places can get you replacements, still. Or some online stores still have them, but usually they cost the most there. If you really love the set and want to keep it around forever, buy a complete set of NOS tubes anyway and have them around for later. You can "test" the originals by swapping them with new, one at a time, and sensing changes in the radio's performance. If there's no other easier way to test them.
If you have a shop-vac or vacuum-cleaner that optionally blows air, take the radio outside, remove the tubes and blow a strong blast of air over the dusty top of the chassis, while simultaneously gently scrubbing it with a disposable toothbrush (you won't want to use the toothbrush for its intended purpose afterwards). The caked-on dust should blow off with some gentle prodding from the brush. Don't use water here -- seems like getting the old dust wet just makes it sticky and more permanently engaged. And what I said about water and electricity, too.
After brushing the chassis and windexing the tubes, you'll find a new enthusiasm for the rest of the job. The cardboard capacitors look original and doubtless no longer do their job. I'd start there. After testing the tubes of course. With tested/new tubes and fresh electrolytics it will most likely play again. The smaller wax capacitors, if bad, will cause sound problems or tuning issues or questionable reception, but they rarely cause a radio to not work at all. Save them for later. Sometimes the resistors will degrade too, but not as likely. Very rarely some other component.
As long as it's fun, enjoy the challenge.
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