Thank you all for not making me feel CRAZY for even having considered rescuing yet another machine.
The truth is, I did call a friend with a car a few hours later, to tell her about it in case she wanted it for herself. She did go to get it, and alas it was gone already. Don't worry, it was good weather that day, and if there was -any- sign of rain on the way I would have gone back without bike, and with wheeley cart, in order to rescue it lest it should still be abandoned.
I hope it went to a wonderful home. It did look like a -very- good machine.
I must must must fight my disease (MachinusMustusRescuitus). I fear I am going to die a lonely death in an airless room surrounded by old mechanical stitchers. Should this ever happen, I hope you will all come to my funeral. ;-) Decorate my grave with oddball bobbins and inscriptions from old manuals. ;-)