I got a real surprise last evening. I've been emailing back and forth with Jon trying to figure out which needles the W&G takes and comparing notes on the Minnesota A & B I now have. Jon said, "Give me the serial number on the ~A~ and I can date it for you. I did: D3532574, and Jon said it was made in 1909 or early 1910. 100+ years old and in this good of shape. That was a big shock.
Much of the shellack is still on the machine. If I can get the gunk off of it I'll get with Glenn and try his method of refurbishing the shellack around to make it look better.
So far I've got all the external plates and parts removed and have started with the oil and cotton balls. Don't know how much that will get clean, but I'm totally paranoid about using anything else.
Joe