Don't get rid of that radio (unless you want to give it to me). Since you got it from your mom, it probably has some sentimental value and it hasn't been beat up like so many of them are. I have one that my daughter bought for me and it's seen a little abuse.
It's designed to operate on either 120 vac/dc or on batteries. You won't be able to buy batteries for it anymore, however. It's usually the leather strap on top that goes first ... maybe the hinge on the back door. You can get a new strap made at a decent tack shop.
As a radio, it's a hot little set, one of the few (especially of that size) that has an RF amplifier. An RF amplifier is an extra stage at the "front end" of the radio that helps pull in weak stations. Most (I'd almost say ALL) table radios omit this nice feature. I would suppose that this model had one because it was designed for taking to the picnic or down to the beach where you would be farther away from the city radio stations and therefore have a weaker signal.
I'm dubious as to its rarity. I'll see a 46-350 described on ebay as a "rare model" and then see that there's seven more just like it for sale on ebay. But, that's ebay for you anyway. Overall, I think its just a danged cute little radio. I still don't have mine running yet. I need to get to work on it.
If you can get it going, I think you'll really like it. Or does it run OK now (without a lot of buzzing which indicates some bad filter capacitors)?
Dean
To All
The Philco 46-350 is a good six tube set with a three gang unit which helps with the sensitivity in picking up stations. On a good night it will pick up clear channel stations as far away as Des Moines in Iowa, WGN 720 in Chicago and WSB 750 in Atlanta from a east coast location in Pennsylvania. It is sturdy and well built as I found when it fell on the floor and kept right on playing. When these are repaired and fixed up they are a sound pleasure to listen to.
Tom--- New in Hobby