When to keep vintage equipment in its original form or when to upgrade to more user friendly productivity. has been a question many have asked themselves. What it really boils down to is, is the machine part of some historical significant event? Can documentation be traced to the actual machine in question? Will the machine have more value in an estate sale after your passing by retaining originality? If the answer is no to any of those then it becomes a matter of personal preferences. Do you like all aspects and functions of the machine as is, or would a few upgraded enhancements make it worth more to you in daily usage. Can any of the mods be reversed back to original should you decide to sell it and the buyer wanted an as factory built machine. Lastly will any mods be worth the expense and effort if the machine is just used occasionally.
I have a 1916 LaBlond 16inch lathe which falls into the category of someone has already modified it more than once. Converted from flat belt to cog belt 2inch risers under the head stock and a homemade tail stock. The modes were done well enough for the most part but I am looking at changing out the already modified head stock which has been machined out to accept ball bearings instead of the Babbit or bronze saddle bearings originally on the spindle. To a head stock of my own making with a spindle having at least a 3.5" bore with a chuck on both ends, and since it has a heavy duty carriage with long T slotted wings I think the mod will greatly enhance the old lathe and ultimately make worth a lot more than it is now, which is probably so much a pound in scrap even though it works fine