VPI HW-19 or VPI Traveler

Frogman it does have the separate arm board and acrylic lead platter. 

I’ve been using the HW-19 MK3 for 25 years. The only part I replaced is the Hurst motor that is still available ($90) from Hurst.
I doubt you will find a better table for a grand. If that table was still being made it would be in the $3000+ range. BTW, I use mine with a SME 309 arm so I can’t comment on the Rega arm!
https://www.vpiindustries.com/hw-19-mkiii

Regarding the bearings. It will probably play reasonably well if the owner took care of it by changing the bearing oil, generally every 5 years or so.

The original question related to "new condition." If you want to assure that the table is playing at its very best you can eventually take the bearing apart and look at it. The ball and/or the thrust plate will or will not show signs of wear. They are easily replaced. [Actually if there’s a flat spot on the ball it can be removed, turned, and re-glued in.] At the VPI forum people will tell you how to do it yourself. Or VPI will do it for you. Consult with them as to their charge.

In any event, as others have noted, the potential of the HW-19 is certainly greater than the Traveler.

I went ahead and purchased it. Felt like a good platform to start with. There were enough positives that the decision is easy enough. Coming from the technics sl1700 MK2 I'm sure I won't be disappointed. 

Congrats and enjoy it. Very nice table. Make sure the bearing is well and freshly oiled, and properly so. Don’t use lithium grease as was in vogue at one time. Good old Mobil 1 sounded best to me and I tried just about everything. I found it to be very full bodied sounding and some might say “a little dark”; not me. Keep that in mind if tuning your system. Replacing the springs or Sorbo with upturned tall tiptoes tightened things up quite a bit and got rid of the slight “darkness“. Clean your belt and give it a light dusting of talc. I owned every version of the 19 and can tell you that the 19 with the thicker MK 4 platter is not behind my current TNT 6 very much at all. The SDS is great. Now that I spent your money...... But it sounds great as is.

Good listening.