[Reece]

Yes, for some folks who sell on eBay, "works" means "something" happens, like the dial lights up, "some" of the tubes light up, it makes noise, etc.

I would rather NOT have them plug it in, since, if they don't know what they are doing, or don't bring the set up with a variac and a light bulb in series with it, they can burn up the rectifier or the power transformer if there is a short. I know that in any case I would have to totally recap the set and check for bad resistors, bad wiring (some of the sets of that era had wire insulation that would disintegrate and short) before ever thinking to plug it in. If the power transformer is good, the rest is usually cheap to restore to good working order. But most sellers probably don't know what a power transformer is, much less how to non-destructively test it. In this case, the transformer does work since the tubes light up, at least the heater windings work. I would think this would be a pretty easy restoration electronically, and the cabinet looks nice in the pictures.

Reece