I suggest you take the photos down to the local flooring shop. If there is sample the size of a penny, take that,t oo. Choose an old established shop. Someone on the staff will have the experience to tell you about how your floor should be cared for best. The white part under the metal strip indicates that the flooring either has yellowed (aged) wax or has actually yellowed itself with age. If you have some plain sudsy ammonia (supermarket kind), you can apply a little, diluted with hot water, for 20 minutes near where the metal strip covered it up, to see if it softens the wax finish (scrub gently with old toothbrush). Try an area the size of a quarter. It looks like there may be extra yellow wax buildup near the base of the coving (the curved part that goes up the wall). The coving I've seen usually has a metal strip across the top.

Check prices for new flooring while you are at the shop. These photos look pretty good and the floor may clean up beautifully with strip and wax by a floor pro. If you remove it, have it tested for asbestos first so you have peace of mind. Tests run $40-$60.