Tying the 1N191 anode to ground would appear to cut off the 2N3416 it is attached to, which would provide maximum voltage output from the supply. But then you could not adjust output voltage.
The more I study the circuit, the more I think of Rube Goldberg! It might be possible to equal the performance by using one 723 voltage regulator IC with the 2N3055 pass transistor. In that case, the 40 Volt winding might be useful for independently powering the 723. If interested, you might find a suitable circuit on a 723 data sheet.
A fuse would be nice in the event of catastrophic failure. (A fuse is a $1 device that protects a $.10 transistor!)
Fred