Steve, I am really enjoying your thread here and nice work you are doing. As an antique restorer my feeling is to leave it as is showing the history and wear. In the antique business the motto the less you do is better and will not devalue the item. Now in this case it must be personal choice on your part. This said you are going to have a nice machine no matter what you do. I would go with your instincts and what makes you feel good.
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