Margaret,
The machine is not in the correct style of box. It should be in a base with a compartment on the right end. In that compartment normally is found a cord block with two outlets. One for the motor, one for the light. One wire from the cord block goes to the wall socket, the other end to the foot controller.
The cord block is missing.
The machine probably has no mechanical problems, but as it sits it's unusable.
This is the type of cord block set up it should have:
{
http://www.shop.sew-classic.com/Cord...143-SCE143.htm }
Joe