I'm pretty sure I have that machine! I inherited it from my mother-in-law, but since I grew up learning to sew on a (somewhat more recent) singer, I figured out how to thread it by closing my eyes and just using my hands.
You can find the owner's manual online, which is awesome -- these were still post-war, so they assumed the ladies were doing all the disassembly, maintenance, and re-assembly. There are line drawings of an owner fixing the machine in a dress and pearls, if I recall correctly.
I've found the thing to be bomber. I've taken it into the shop once or twice, but they mostly just look at me funny and pull out the fluff (I sew a lot of fleece pjs). I'm not fancy, and neither is the machine, but it goes forward, and backwards, and that's pretty much what I need for clothing alterations, sewing pjs and such, and household sewing (napkins, curtains, mending... oh yeah, and facemarks galore :( ) I've also used it with heavier material to make bags -- with the correct needle, it sews right through outdoor-weight canvas and faux leather, in case you want to make a spiffy tote bag or three...