I am so sad to hear about the shipping fiasco. I have your machine's twin, a 1951 hand crank! Aren't they just so sweet? The tension spring on my 1953 electric 99K does the same thing and still sews beautifully. I just need to research and fix it.
It would be cool if the mail lady had some great machines too. I wouldn't burn that bridge. I would just contact the seller. I made sure my ebay seller packed well and he did a great job. Ask me how I know: my ebay Viking machine came bouncing around in a box only half-stuffed with packing peanuts!!!