You are going to love your new machine! My 15-91 is my favorite machine. Mine is also a 1952, so we must have sisters! You do know you have to give her a name, right?
I love your small town story. I lived in a small town and I miss it. I remember shortly after moving there we had new carpet put down. The roll of carpet stayed on the truck for maybe 45 m.in. before we brought it inside. Next time I went to the bank (no drive through, street parking only, and only 1 teller) everyone was excited because they loved the color carpet I put down in my house! So, in 45 minutes, someone looked at the carpet and got on the phone with "the news"..I had only been in the bank to open an account and maybe two other times. I had no idea anyone really knew who I was or where I lived! No privacy in a small town, but eventually lots of friends!
And when I spoke in front of the phone company "big wigs" about our need to have local telephone service to the nearest big city, I became a local celebrity!