Yes, the "plain unpainted steel number section with a pointy bit" is original. Most places say that the 201 was introduced in 1935; however, there is
one place that gives the date as 1932. I went through the serial numbers for the 201 class machines and found that Kilbowie allotted 11,600 numbers in 1934. For Elizabethport, there were 2,200 serial numbers allotted between April 1932 and May 1935.
I have a 201-2 machine that the serial number was allotted in December 1935 which has the unpainted tension assembly. There is an image of a 201 leaflet (unknown date) showing the unpainted one at
https://oldsingersewingmachineblog.c...-later-models/ There is an adjusters manual from 1936 and the tension can be seen at
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/10...page=54#manual
Probably the "gold speckled one" is just one that the paint has been worn off.
Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.
Not affiliated with off-site link(s)