on the 50 push button radio is there a working reason for the braided metal loom that the wires go thru to get to the speaker unit. i have a frayed wire that i want to replace or maybe all 3 while i am at it.the 3 metal braided looms are soldered at both ends. i think they are there just to protect the wires my buddy thinks they are there for a ground. has some one in our club gone thru this the radio was repaired and sent back working. when i put it back in the car nothing happens.i am have about had it with looking at a hole in my dash.

You can start off checking if there is battery voltage going to the radio. It's 6 volt negative ground, Most likely a grounding cable as b+ and speaker wires go through it to cut down on any noise. These sets also used a vibrator. If it was working on the bench and sold as a working radio things happen in shipping. Also it's a tube radio if one of them went bad the radio will not work except for some noise unless the rectifier tube cut out.There's a lot that makes these radios work. It may have to go to a shop to be checked.

so when i repair the wires will i still need the braided metal loom that wires go thru

Yes, The braided covering is grounded and shields the wires from ignition system noise.

thats what i wanted to know now the trick will be getting the old wires out of the shield and then soldering everything with out burning any wire any ideas .do you think i can cut the metal braid in half do my repairs and then get the braid ends as close together as i can and shrink tube them together and hope to get a good ground 2 out of the 3 wires are bad so maybe leaving 1 alone i can still keep some what of a ground any ideas

The ground will be through one or both end fittings. As long as the shield completely surrounds the wires and is still grounded it will do its job.