Sheri,
Your machine is missing the knob that drops the feed dogs. My 237 looks just like yours. I treadle my machine because the motor on mine was broken. I like treadles better than electric machines sometimes.
The needle goes in the machine with the flat to the right and threads from left to right. Its a nice simple machine that works very well.
Old machines need to be oiled frequently, otherwise they will cease to work very well.
www.singerco.com has a free manual for your machine, it shows where and how to oil your machine,it has everything you need to know to learn to use your new machine.
Sharon