Trying to pick a restoration candidate

[johnt123]

I recently received 2 old RCA radios. One is a model 85K and the other is a model 8T-2. I have found documentation for both.
Which one would be the best candidate for restoration? The 85K has been replanted into a homemade cabinet and the 8T-2 is in the original cabinet. Both are untested and both have issues with their tuning mechanisms. Both radios look to be complete with no missing parts.
I know from working on audio equipment that some units are better candidates for restoration than others so I thought I’d ask.
I am not a collector so I only need one. I’m a huge fan of Old Time Radio and want to listen to those classic radio programs on authentic equipment. Fortunately a local AM station plays a few hours of these every night

Thanks for looking.

[Sterling Spurrell]

I guess it is going to be a personal choice but for me it would be the one that is original.

[Dan Walker]

I have an 8T-2 that I restored about five years ago. I like the looks of the radio and it is a good performer.
I would definitely go with that one,since it is original, and it has the eye tube.
Here is a photo of mine
Dan in Calgary

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