Pick it up. Talk to the owner. Haggle a bit about the price, after all it's in terrible shape. After you compromise and agree on a rediculously low price for what you know is a treasure reality sets in when you get home. Well, it is a treasure you just need to restore it to the glory it deserves. After the restoration it will sit on a shelf and bask in its glory OR it will get utilized for its purpose and in time will be like an old friend. BUT where to start, what can be done? Here's a basic tutorial on just that task.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Hand-Pl ... dium=emailPretty basic common sense stuff but the beauty is that it organizes the process into easy steps. Like the old answer to how do you eat an elephant? "One bite at a time".