[Jeffhs]

If your set lights up (the pilot light behind the dial comes on) and the tubes all light normally as well, but the radio still won't work, you probably have a B+ (plate supply) problem--either there is no plate voltage on the tubes at all, or what voltage is there is raw AC. If you do not know what I am talking about, stay out of the back of that radio as there are high voltages present at many points under the chassis, which can and in many cases will give you a nasty, even lethal electric shock if, for example, you touch the chassis and anything connected to earth ground while it is plugged in.

The fact that you were not yet born in 1940 has nothing to do with being able (or not) to operate your radio. Those older sets weren't difficult to operate in the least; all one had to do to turn it on was to turn the volume control knob until it clicked, which operated the power switch (it is attached to the back of the volume control and is mechanically linked to it).

The manual tuning knob works the same as any other standard radio. The most complicated feature of your Philco is the pushbutton station presets; actually, these aren't difficult to operate once set up, but the procedure to set them to your area's local stations could be tricky unless you have the instruction manual and/or schematic (wiring diagram). The procedure is different for every old radio with these preset buttons, so I'd get the manual first, before trying to set them.

Once your Philco is operating as it should (I'd check the filter capacitors and resistors first along with the tubes and paper caps, as Sandy pointed out), it will be a great set, capable of pulling in excellent DX (distance reception) when used with a proper antenna. Yours also looks as if it has at least one shortwave band, which offers its own thrills and challenges, especially at night. I am an amateur (ham) radio operator, and have heard many such shortwave stations on my own gear in the three decades plus I've been in the hobby.

I also have a small collection of old radios, the oldest being a Zenith H511 table model from 1951 and the newest, a Zenith K-731 AM/FM set from 1963, plus a bunch of '60s-'70s vintage transistor radios as well. Have been fooling around with electronics and radio since I was eight years old (I'm 48 now) and have had my amateur radio license since the age of 16, in 1972. Sandy is right; old radios are like "tater" chips--you can't stop at just one! Once you get into this hobby, you are likely going to be in it for life. I know I am.

Good luck and welcome to AK. I'm sure you'll like it here.

Kind regards,