Chris,
That one really threw me. I feel like a simpleton. And I pride myself on being able to fix anything. But the set up is unique. I was looking for a way for a standard bulb to fit the configuation. If there had been two steel posts then I would have immediately seen that the design required an elongated snap-in bulb but there was only one post. So I figured the single post had something to do with a standard bulb socket snapping onto it. I had taken the assembly completely apart and even noticed the brass extension connected to the wire clip but I figured it was there to allow the connetor to protrude through the switch housing so that the wire could be more easily attached or removed. It never dawned on me that it was designed to be the second post.
Again thanks. Your pictures were most helpful.