Update:thank you for all your input! I went to my local repair shop to get the replacement plate ($5) and a high shank foot (yes Joe, you were right about that and the needle position being to the right). The cabinet is not original (I took it out of the cabinet and there were signs that it wasn't the original tenant) and the machine shop person pointed out that she has been very carefully painted lavender. So the foot pedal may be original (that pinkish brown),