Ron is right, I had it in x-y mode and I should be getting a dot, not a line.
Here's what I found when I took the thing apart-
1. I hooked up my scope to the + side of about 6 electrolytic supply caps, which I'm guessing is the supply rails as well.
I found a triangle wave in the neighborhood of about 1 volt riding on the supply rails.
The frequency was 125hz- because of the bridge rectifiers correct?
Yes, It is double the line frequency and you have 60 Hz over there.
2. I measured the ESR of the capacitors with a ohmeter and they had resistances ranging from 10k-70k.
Of course they were in the circuit and i have a sneaking suspicion i might be reading the bleeder resistors because the capacitors wouldn't keep their charge after i turned it off.
You should measure them with the power off.
10k - 70 k is rather high. So if correct, then they need changing. Normally the ESR is < 5 Ohm and when high only a few Ohm above the nornal.
The normal ESR varies from one cap to another depending on their capacitance and voltage rating.
Do you have a list of ESR versus C and V? So your readings may be wrong.
I suggest you remove one and measure its ESR when out of circuit.
3. I found an index card that said that the ch. 2 x10 attenuator was repaired in '56!
I think I should probably replace those electrolytics.
I doubt if it was 1956, but yes, take them out one by one and check them.
If you confirm that your ESR readings taken while in circuit agree approximately with those taken when out of circuit, then replace all.