Great machine! I have one at home.
It has a couple features that make it unique for a machine of it's age. It has a "needle-up clutch." so when you stop sewing the needle will always stop in the up position. It also has a "half-stitch, rock back" in the foot control. So, if you want the needle down, you just push with your heel. Then another rock-back will bring the needle up. It also has a basting devise. You can tell the needle to stay up (and not stitch) for every-other stitch or every 3 stitches. If that feature isn't used regularly, it can freeze-up the needle bar. So if it is working, use it. If it is frozen, you're better off not trying to using it. It's really hard to get it un-frozen.