I have the same machine only in olive drab crinkle. The hand wheel rotates clockwise or away from you. If you turn it counter clockwise or towards you like a Singer or your Brother, it will not pick up the bobbin thread.
Threading the machine is a wee bit different too.
Come off the spool and feed the thread through the guide at the top of the face plate. From there down to the tensioner towards the bottom of the face plate, under the little wire like part then up until it catches the little tiny spring. Then up to the thread take up lever, through the eye on the take up lever from the outside or the side facing you, towards the rear of the machine. Then down to the thread guide on the needle bar, then to the needle. Thread the needle from the left to the right.
Joe