Sorry to hear that. Guess it's better you checked it out than going through life regretting not getting the cabinet.
Early in my sewing machine obsession I had an orphan Davis head I wanted to put in a Singer treadle cabinet. I couldn't bring myself to butcher a perfectly good cabinet. If I loved woodworking I might have tried it but I'd much rather find something that would drop right in. Hope you find something you love.
Jon