A pivotal hookswitch mechanism which includes a transverse camshaft supported between actuating arms of a cradle lever. The camshaft carries a plurality of transversely spaced contact spring operating cams, each cam positioned between respective contact springs of a spring pair. The camshaft is carried with its transverse ends within bearing openings of an enclosing housing, the housing enclosing the cams and contact springs. The contact springs are leaf springs resting in two parallel arrays of slots in the housing, the springs being identical. The housing is constructed of two identical shell members each forming a half of the housing, with one half being inverted relative to the other to form the central cavity for the operating components of the mechanism. The housing provides a dust-tight enclosure for the contact springs and cams with entry openings into the housing cavity filled, the enclosure structure serving as a pivot axis and pintle for the actuating lever.