Raising the lid to redistribute the load, then closing to resume operation...hmmmm... Usually the buzzer sounds until you manually pull the dial out to stop, then raise the lid, redistribute, close the lid and push the dial in to restart. It says the machine stops, but does not signal you at all. Am I reading that right?
Yup, you got it John. The 1957 models had a lid-switch with four wires going through it. As you know, the unbalance sensor is a switch and solenoid to hold the switch open to keep power from reaching the motor/spin solenoid/timer motor when the sensor is hit hard enough by the baseplate. While the sensor switch was very similar to the 60's/70's sensor, the 1950's sensor let the sensor plate travel all the down for the solenoid to hold it tight (and quiet). In the 60's they changed the design slightly so the plate couldn't quite make it all the way down, and when you prevent a solenoid from traveling its 100% route of travel the solenoid complains loudly by buzzing. Now the 1957 Lady Kenmore wired the sensor solenoid in parallel with the end of cycle bell, so in the Lady Kenmore, the bell rang every five seconds during an unbalance hold condition.
Since the 50's switch was wired through the lid switch, opening the lid would break the power connection to the solenoid releasing the switch and putting the machine back into drain. The load is rearranged and when the lid is closed it moves from drain back to spin via the spin solenoid. The only problem with for us when we jump out the lid switch, the off balance sensor no longer works.
I'm so happy for you!
