Little Villager woodburning stove,repair,replace or ignore?

hollydays

I have posted before trying to ascertain a problem with my woodburning stove.
Finally paid to get someone to look at it.
It has a lever right at the top(the flue damper?) that you can open or shut to include/exclude air,that apparently was jammed closed almost,so he hammered it to get it open.He says its called the Little Villager.

As i only use this stove a few times a week in winter,should I think to get it repaired,if possible?
Or should I leave it,in the open position.
I asked the man about makes for a small stove he said a double barrelled name including the word Belge-maybe Franco Belge (or did I imagine that?)
Going to try to light it later today.