Caroline,
This is what I meant by the "hammered" finish:
It's like you used to find on metal (remember metal) tool boxes.
As for checking the wiring please do so. I plugged in a questionable 15-91 a couple days ago and blew the breakers in my power bar.
Big flash of arching juice as the dead short about destroyed the cord set I'd borrowed from our FW. I got it fixed, but needed another BP pill afterwards.
Joe