How rough is too rough?

[Tubejunke]

Just wondering what different people's standards are on condition. Where do you draw the line between keeping a set for the collection and display after taking the time and money to get it going and simply parting out, donating or discarding.

The thought came to mind as lately I remembered that I had put a 1949 Philco AM-FM Bakelite set out in the shed that had a decent cabinet but a roached chassis. When I say roached I usually mean rusted chassis which usually comes with frayed wiring. Both likely the results of mice making homes inside at some point in time, maybe decades.

I have figured out also that chassis in this condition hardly ever work as is, where as sets in better condition do. Sets in better condition I would say were kept in some sort of climate controlled environment or at least dry. Now I must say that I have a few sets that do happen to work that for whatever reason have developed a few rust spots which I try to clean up and use whatever rust deterrent chemical I may have on hand such as Naval Jelly and like products.

Now with this Philco I am not sure what to do as the cabinet is almost perfect with the ratty chassis. I wonder if I could find a decent chassis somewhere. That would be the thing to do, but it may be hard to find just a chassis somewhere and I don't want to buy a complete other radio to fix one in my shed. For the sake of the hopeful thread I will ad that if somehow I get a set that is beat up on the outside and the inside, but complete; I will try to donate it to a thrift store hoping maybe someone will make a few bucks and maybe it (the radio) and the money will go to good homes.