Thanks for all the replies. I may follow the advice and leave the head up with the leaf resting on it. But that raises another question. Will the pressure of the leaf pushing the head sideways cause another, different issue?
So.....were these machines really designed to open and close daily? What do you think sewists did in the 1950's when my machine was made for example? Did they sew occasionally or daily? Do you suppose a daily sewist would keep her machine open all the time?
I keep my avatar open all the time.....