Easy Washer model 15 electric switch

[gigi]

Need a little help trying to figure out this electric switch. I'm about 90% finished with the restoration. I'm not sure what the original motor was or who the manufacturer was. When I bought the machine it had an old motor rigged up to it with pipe straps. It had 3 wires coming off of it. My assumption is one for ground, one plus and the other neg. I found an older motor that bolts right in. It only has 2 leads. I have several questions. Does this switch have some kind of safety mechanism built into it. I'm wondering what the purpose of the coil is for (on the right side in the pic on the base of the box). How would I safely wire this back up?

 

[lowefficiency]

Without knowing anything about the machine, it almost looks like the top push button will mechanically latch when pressed in... and then that latch can be released either via pushing the lower button, or by energizing the coil on the lower left?

 

[gigi]

I think your right on but what condition would cause the coil to get energized and shut the switch. Is it some sort of timer or safety device?

 

[jeff_adelphi]

Circuit breaker

The motor power must pass thru the coil and switch contacts. If the motor draws too much power it would cause the coil to release the switch contacts. This may not be needed as the the newer motor may have built in overload protection.

 

[gigi]

Would the switch be wired parallel or in series in the circuit to operate as a breaker? I.E in the negative loop or in between + and -?

 

[luxflairguy]

My Grandparents one and only washer was an Easy Model M. If I'm right, it was manufactured in roughly 1928. It had this type of switch which was an momentary on and then let go. The black button was the off switch. I can remember as as child being allowed to start the washer by pushing in on the red button for about 10 second and letting it go! Once the General Electric motor started the washer ran and ran and ran! The switch made a distinctive sound too! A buzz until you let go of the switch.
This washer served my Grandparents for over 60 years! The lived in the country on the Tualatin River (Oregon) and the basement got flooded regularly. If Gramps hadn't got the washer up the stairs fast enough, it was always submerged in river water. Gramps kept the GE motor well oiled and I think between the good oiling and his removing it from the washer frame and "baking" it in a low oven. yes the oven, it kept running! Imagine that! Sadly, it ended up in my parents basement in Tacoma, WA and while I tried valiantly to find it a museum home, I had to send it to scrap! I learned to much from using that "old thing!
It had a distinctive sound and I had a great sense of history using for so many years from 1978-1982 when I lived on the farm. Greg

 

[gigi]

That's a great story, Greg. I bought mine from a guy in Pittsburgh, PA. He didn't know it's past history. I think he may have got it at a flea market. I tore it all down and sanded, cleaned primed, painted and polished it. The wiring was like a plate of spaghetti with corroded wires and balls of electrical tape covered in oil and dirt. Unfortunately for me there is little info on the net about the wiring.