Sandy,
Could you post a picture please. I found this infro. hope it will help!
While I can’t tell you about your specific machine, The Simplex was one of many machines made in Japan, know as a "class-15 clones". Made in Japan after WW2 when the US shared western technology in an effort to help rebuild Japan. There were many made with names for American department stores, ect., but the same basic design. Most are solid, well-built machines and can still perform well.
For more information, join the Yahoo group "vintagejapansewingmachines"