Originally Posted by
mlmack
I don't know what the modern electrical safety requirements are, but a modern electrical device isn't going to be any safer than a 60-year old electrical device, if the insulation on the wiring is in bad shape.
I'd just wire in a modern electronic foot controller and be done with it.
Sure it is. Modern appliances are designed so that if the insulation fails, the exterior of the appliance doesn't become live.