Ran across a "barn fresh" Star that looked to be the original version of the bike I started this thread with. Looked original and virtually unridden with the nubs still on the rotted tires and an even coat of dust and surface rust. Same grey Falk frame, steel wheel set, drive train, etc. but this one had stem shifters. So this pretty well confirms that my bike was upgraded to the bar end shifters pictured above.

This was at a central MN Saturday morning flea market and I had left my phone in the truck... while my wife was deleting grandkids pics from her full phone so I could take some pics another guy came along and bought it. The seller said he picked it up at a garage sale for $60 and said he'd take $40... don't know what the final price was but likely <$40. Well bought. A winter project opportunity lost.