Yes, those are the "transport bolts" right ? I already thought they should be ! I think it even has a big influence on the sound (like the motor hum being feed-back to the needle) is that right ?
So funny, the former owner had it like this for YEARS (well at least it was safe during transport

The former owner also had dismounted the 4 switch service panel and put it "hanging outside" so he could credit it. I quickly found through Googling that simply removing the "programming" PCB from the black box was sufficient to put it in free-play !
Anyway, this tells that the former owner has done nothing in technical sense, and he even mentioned it hasn't been serviced since 1988 ! SO I'm going to need that book for sure !

About the front removing, just tried it and now I feel really embarrassed that I asked because it's SO simple !

I removed the diffusing sheet (is that the correct name). Apparantly someone in the past has been (re-)gluing this in. That glue has run down and created the bad spots on the "artwork" which really is a shame since it's in great condition otherwise.
My plan is tom completely remove the top blue and the second red "bands" and replace them with filters used normally for stage lighting. I have a color sample book here and well, if anyone wants to do the same in the future: The brand of filters is Lee Filters (
http://www.leefilters.com/).
I ordered the following:
714 Elysian Blue (top blue band)
182 Light Red (2nd from the top band)
170 Deep Lavender (for the band around the selection indicator, which is flaked). To back this I ordered 229 Quarter Tough Spun which is a diffuser that I will put behind it.
The colors are matched from their samples book. Not perfect, but for sure close enough.
Waiting for the stuff to arrive. The filters come in sheets of 50 x 122 cm's so plenty for a band. (The box is about 100cm. wide) and they cost me a little bit over €6 per sheet.
To make this work I'll of course have to remove (make blank) all the original colors. Going to be tough to get that "glued" area nice looking....