Are you sure you have the foot control (pedal) plugged in to the correct outlet? Although if you did that it would just start running without touching the pedal.
Does the light work? The switch is on the end with the hand wheel.
If you look at
https://www.shop.sew-classic.com/Cor...143-SCE143.htm it should have a link for a foot control.
The manual I have, I think is from the vintage Japanese yahoo group. I can't tell if your machine has a low or high shank presser foot. The manual I have looks like it might be a high shank.
Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.