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Hoping someone has worked on a 1954 radio and can give some advice on how to fix it or troubleshoot it? Not sure where to start before I have no choice and send it out. Could it be a fuse or wiring issue or just time to get it replaced? Trying to keep it as original as possible

Some questions would be what happens when you turn it on.

Does the dial light work? If it does not that could be bulb or fuse. There is, I believe, a 14 amp inline fuse in the power lead going to the radio.

If the dial light works, does the radio have a light hum or buzz? If not, the vibrator is the most likely item to have failed and finding an exact original type specified for that radio will be hit or miss. Solid state replacements are the norm today and those are also somewhat specific. A new vibrator of either type usually should have a specific capacitor changed and if you are not familiar with electronics that would best be done by a shop. If the radio has been inactive for years, replacing most of the other old wax foil type capacitors would also be in order because those usually dry out and change value causing issues. Sometimes a sudden voltage after a long sit will cause the wax type units to outright fail.

If it does hum and still nothing is there any sound at all coming from the unit if the volume is turned way up? If not, a simple reason could be an issue with the antenna, antenna lead in wire, or the antenna plug into the radio is disconnected. Antenna issues are a longshot and the more likely cause would be a tube or component such as a capacitor inside has failed. That will in most cases requires special diagnostic equipment to find the exact cause and should be done by a professional.

Finding someone to work on the old tube type car radios is getting harder but if you have trouble finding someone there are several shops across the country you can send to. Not sure where you are in CA but there is at least one long time shop out here in the Central Coast area south of San Luis Obispo.