Help identify Maytag Mystery Part...

To add to Tom's thoughts, this assembly was used on the first iteration of Maytag automatic washers, known affectionally as the AMP.� �The two switches grouped together control the water valve/timer similarly to a pressure fill switch on a later Maytag washer (left), with the second controlling current to the motor (right).� Both are staged opposite of each other where the water valve switch is closed upon initial fill with the motor switch open.� Once the pressure from the agitator float overcomes the spring pressure on the assembly both switches flip and open the circuit for the water valve and close the circuit for the motor, as well as activating the timer motor.
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The single switch on the backside was the out of balance switch that, when triggered, would fall into a detent within the assembly causing current to the motor to cut out.� When the lid was raised and the load of laundry addressed it would force that switch away from the detent and would fall back into a closed position once the lid was lowered.��
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The switch assembly was later used to control a lamp within the lid assembly, through the 1955 102 and 1956 140.� When the helical drive 141 was introduced a smaller mercury switch was used to control the lid lamp�as the full assembly was no longer needed.
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This particular assembly appears to be from an early AMP where sadly the wire insulation crumbles to dust.� Maytag went through a few iterations of the mercury switches where the last version with the bright green tip has the higher likelihood of the wires fairing better with regular use.

Pictures provided from the restoration efforts of my 102 AMP, done back in 2018.

Ben

Photos... < > Photo 1 of 4 View Full Size


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Post# 1169241 1/12/2023 at 08:23 (462 days old) by turbokinetic (Northport, Alabama USA)
Checkrate/Likes Obviously it's a cluster of mercury switches; but my interest is piqued by the Maytag branding and configuration. It almost looks like a part of a fully automatic heatpump thermostat from the early systems back in the 70's; but the mercury switch bulbs are a lot larger in this item. I don't know anyone else to ask so I figure I will share the picture here! Any ideas? Sincerely, David View Full Size

Post# 1169247 , Reply# 1 1/12/2023 at 10:25 (462 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)
Checkrate/Likes *What I remember.* This is not complete, but what I remember. That looks like the cluster of mercury switches in the early Maytag Washers' "safety lids." One switch allowed power to flow when the lid was in the "down" position and interrupted it when the lid was raised. One switch was controlled or activated by the water level raising the Gyrator float so that power flowed to the fill valve until the float signaled that a full water level was reached and then started the agitation. Another switch served to stop the washer if an out of balance load caused the Gyrator post to strike the little paddle behind the round button.

Post# 1169249 , Reply# 2 1/12/2023 at 11:07 (462 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)
Checkrate/Likes 2 *1949 - 1957 Maytag AMP lid switch assembly* To add to Tom's thoughts, this assembly was used on the first iteration of Maytag automatic washers, known affectionally as the AMP.� �The two switches grouped together control the water valve/timer similarly to a pressure fill switch on a later Maytag washer (left), with the second controlling current to the motor (right).� Both are staged opposite of each other where the water valve switch is closed upon initial fill with the motor switch open.� Once the pressure from the agitator float overcomes the spring pressure on the assembly both switches flip and open the circuit for the water valve and close the circuit for the motor, as well as activating the timer motor. � The single switch on the backside was the out of balance switch that, when triggered, would fall into a detent within the assembly causing current to the motor to cut out.� When the lid was raised and the load of laundry addressed it would force that switch away from the detent and would fall back into a closed position once the lid was lowered.�� � The switch assembly was later used to control a lamp within the lid assembly, through the 1955 102 and 1956 140.� When the helical drive 141 was introduced a smaller mercury switch was used to control the lid lamp�as the full assembly was no longer needed. � This particular assembly appears to be from an early AMP where sadly the wire insulation crumbles to dust.� Maytag went through a few iterations of the mercury switches where the last version with the bright green tip has the higher likelihood of the wires fairing better with regular use. Pictures provided from the restoration efforts of my 102 AMP, done back in 2018. Ben Photos... < > Photo 1 of 4 View Full Size This post was last edited 01/12/2023 at 14:15

Post# 1169329 , Reply# 3 1/13/2023 at 08:00 (461 days old) by turbokinetic (Northport, Alabama USA)
Checkrate/Likes Thank you guys so much for the info! I will share it with my friend. It definitely looks like the switch cluster shown in Ben's picture, just not attached and mounted normally. Sincerely, David

Post# 1169337 , Reply# 4 1/13/2023 at 10:27 (461 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)
Checkrate/Likes 3 We had Honeywell round thermostats and I used to like to take the round cover off and watch the mercury switches inside.