A BC-453 tunes 455 kHz and converts to 85 kHz. The selectivity can be
increased by pulling out the plastic inserts. Audio is high impedance, but
can be used to feed into another audio amp or back into the receiver audio
chain. Lots of info available on the internet. Today, it is easy to build
a 24 volt supply, and they like that.

Used to be $4.95 - oh wait, that was 1959. But they are still available.

Build a double conversion converter and you can tune a few hundred kHz. Or
build a converter with a synthesized oscillator. Makes a great mobile
receiver for your 1954 Buick Special. Build a solid state inverter onto
that dynamotor plate. In fact, you can use one of those cheap $6 12 - 120
volt inverters and use a voltage doubler to get the correct voltage.

Colin K7FM