I have one of these devices.
A guest at a house party saw it in the kitchen and asked if I used it to make toast.

She appeared to be more or less sane and reasonably sober so I told her that "Yes indeed" I used my toaster to (of all things) make toast on a regular basis.
I also added that I had replaced the old frayed un-safe appliance cord w/ a UL approved version and plug.

I was then informed that I had "ruined it's value" and given The Look suitable for a person who drowns kittens in the punch bowl at parties.
I was under the impression that to me it's value was the quality of toast that it reliably produces while looking like an artifact from Buck Rodger's kitchen.
The alteration to prevent an electrical fire seemed reasonable at the time, however mis-guided.

Apparently there is Society For The Preservation of Sunbeam Toasters that I was unaware of, perhaps a similar organization can be started for: The Preservation of Un-altered Old Un-Interesting Bicycles. A large abandoned warehouse or dairy barn in a remote Northern area could be tastefully heaped with suitable bicycles determined to be in OEM knick, but Old.

-Bandera