After removing the yoke from the contraption to which it is mounted I was able to see the problem. The iron wire had broken and some of it became unwound and dropped down onto a terminal strip below. Since it is grounded this created a short. I had and have no clear idea what this iron wire is for in the first place but decided to simply wind it back as best I could, cover it with electrical tape to hold it in place and see if that would work.
! As soon as it warmed up I was greeted with a sharply focused, in sync picture. I let it run for some time and the yoke only became slightly warm, as normal, so apparently my crude fix is ok.
To answer some other remarks/questions: I have an envelope with the original operating instructions mailed May of '49 to George P. Shears, DC. in Huntingburg, IN. Also a receipt for tuner repair in 1952 from a shop in Louisville, KY. (They charged him $8.00)
http://billbahan.org/dr-george-shears-dc/