Wow you do have a basket case. I am wondering if the spool thing for bobbin winding can come off? mine has a screw on the side. Also, how you do clean the tension assembly if it is not to be taken off? I worked around mine for now. I wondered about just painting the bed part - use the testers touch up paint on nicks - black gloss The sharpie might come off with denatured alcohol but it will also take off the finish. To French polish you just do the same as you would on the machine. It is all French polish. French polish is the softening of the old shellac and the putting on of a little more shellac. If you strip the finish off the case you will need to put on new finish. I'm not Glenn but I think that is what he has taught me.