Wow that is a chunky looking beast!
I love the idea of being able to hide that enormous machine head and the monster motor out of sight inside the cabinet
Which can then function as a really useful table top. It is such a teeny tiny cabinet too! It clearly possesses Tardis capabilities. And it could be slightly sanded and then painted or revarnished, which wouldn't take too long at all, so it blends in with the decor, and you'd hardly notice that it's there.
(Mrs R. are you reading this??)
With industrials I believe you get better control at slow speeds if you place a tennis ball below the foot pedal, although I have never tried that myself.
'Leather and inner tube rubber construction' sounds interesting!