I highly doubt that this isn't the sellers legal property. There is just no market for stolen leather machinery where I live. There is some sort of marking on the lower right. I just can't pester the poor old man more, and he has catered to the fur industry, so heavy leather machines just isn't his turf.
I have had a few machines where I've made new cover plates because the old ones where bust or the screw holes wore out and it got all wiggly etc.
I do value your opinion and under different circumstances it might have been a reason to step back.