Welcome Shannon.
A picture might help. In order to post a picture here, they generally have to be reduced. I did a post about how I do it at
White Rotary
Probably what you have is a "badged" Japanese made machine. A badged machine is a machine made by one manufacturer and he sells it to many different distributors and stores who would then put their name either by a plate or decal with distributor, store or other name. Consequently, there may be a lot of the same machine with different names on it. It probably has a JA or JC number on the underside. Not all JA and JC numbers are known but there are some that have been identified by certain characteristics.
There is a rather long thread here about Japanese made zig zag machines
https://www.quiltingboard.com/vintag...s-t207877.html
For threading, you might want to try
https://www.sewusa.com/Sewing_Machin...g_Diagrams.htm
Maybe Nelco, Morse, JC Penney, or Wards might have a similar machine that would get you started.
When I googled "142b" zig zag sewing machine, there were several different names with that model number.
Maybe check out manuals at:
You will probably want to oil the machine with sewing machine oil anywhere metal meets metal. If there are plastic or rubber parts, don't get any oil on those or where it could drop on the motor. If it has an external motor, the bearing could probably use a drop.
Have fun sewing with your "new" machine.
Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.