[Arran]

Oh good, then it will get restored properly instead of ending up as a book end, lots of crusty rust for sure. So the Tropics used rubber wire as well? I could have sworn that my 40-780 used cloth stuff but I haven't peeked under that chassis in over five years either. My 40-780 does not have any faux finish, all the banding on mine is real, either rosewood or Austrailian walnut I think, in any event it is inlaid and not sitting on the surface. Did you give the seller packing instructions? I think it will arrive in good order as long as the chassis and speaker are bolted down and the whole thing double boxed but who knows?
Chances are that the 42-760 is likely rarer then the Canadian model 55 since the Tropics were intended for export or at least to be used overseas and the 55 was marketed and sold in the Canadian market. For some reason that set looks familiar, I must have seen a 55 is someone's collection at one point, probably while cruising by a shelf.
Regards
Arran