Electrical switch assembly

An electrical switch assembly for controlling the operation of an electrical appliance, which assembly comprises at least first and second electrical elements, the first electrical element comprising an on/off switch for initially switching on said appliance, the second electrical element comprising a pressure-sensitive variable resistor for subsequently adjusting the operating condition of said appliance, the variable resistor comprising a first part having a resilient deformable and electrically conducting resistive surface and a second part having a surface including at least two contacts and a resistive element connecting from one of said contacts to the other contact, one of said parts being supported for movement to press against the other part such that their surfaces bear against one another, thereby causing the resistive surface to deform against the surface of the second part over an area of contact and causing electrical connection between the resistive surface and the resistive element, which together then provide a resultant resistance between the two contacts of a value that reduces as said area of contact increases corresponding to the pressure acting upon the two parts, the assembly including an operating mechanism for operating the first and second electrical elements, said mechanism incorporating manual operating means arranged for initial movement to operate the on/off switch and subsequent movement, while the on/off switch is on, to operate the variable resistor.