I am of a different mindset. Just because I own it does not necessarily mean I can do with it as I wish. There has been at least 11 owners of the Mona Lisa. Can you imagine some temporary owner spray painting a mustache on the old girl or use her as an oil rag. And what if one of the owners of the Cysteine Chapel had painted over the ceiling and put orange shag carpet on the wall? At best we are just temporary owners of anything.
All of those have been “restored”…..not a good example but you do point out what would happen if done by a putz. If the restoration is done correctly then you just added another 100 years to its function and beauty. Of course not all are done correctly and the value AND history are lost. I’d probably leave it but certainly have no objection to a proper restoration.
PennDog
