joe, i think i am siding with you on this one, kinda,
lets say "conditionally"
I just dont ever sell anything, and have yet to buy something for resale value. I tend to value stuff that is either high prescision and "fine" or simplistic and elegant. either case I am looking at the long haul. SO repaint would not ruin anything for me and the one old rusty 15 I have IS going to be flat sublime with flat black and gun blued "chrome" bits but that finsh ( and likely the whole machine) is beyond salvage.
This machine I intend to use... alot, and well I cant look at bare metal and neglect, that jsut is not taking care of my tools.
I wont be stripping it clear down (as nice as it would be to say I have 17 coats of hand rubbed laquer and a truely beautiful machine)
So for now I have found a nice liquid paint that is being carefully apllied to the bare metal chips and feathered in, so at least it will all be one color it will retain its used and worn finish and much of its character, but the one inch patch of bare metal on top of the head where something was dropped on it in storage will at least be repaired 'as if it was a working machine" kept in service but protected from further damage kind of thing.
should be done messing about with it either tonight or at least in a few days.
then it is on to the table.
I have been thinking more and more about doing a quilt with this and maybe one of my 128's. Got looking at some of my uniforms and it seems I have at least two patterns that are no lnger in use.... so I should have a ton of raw materials. I think I will try to use this machine as the "quilter" as even though it is not a long arm there is a ton of room under there and I am sure I can shove a goodly amount of fabric though it.
Thanks for the perspective everyone, I will keep you all updated, hopefully with some finished pictures here soon.