I own a forty year old Crown Point Portable electric zig zag machine and it has never let me down, but this last attempt to use it, I have to switch the on/ off switch to stop it. The foot pedal is in the raised off position ( Not stuck down, and doesn't appear to be broken, )
Any advice please.

Pam, November 2016

I think it's a capacitor not a resistor - a spark suppressor to stop radio and TV interference - not really needed these days.

Cut The Cap..., November 2016

wow old machine,try this open footcontrol and find the resistor that is located between the two wires , cut and remove and trouble should be over

j, November 2016