Perhaps I not have been clear but...
the switch is properly making and breaking the connection, depending on the switch position
means that I have checked the continuity of the wires, and the signal goes from continuous, to broken when the switch is flipped and back again. I hold the terminals of the voltmeter, set to the "ring out" or continuity function, on the solder connections where the wires terminate on the circuit board. There is no continuity when the switch is off, and continuity when the switch is on. In either case, the smoke stays on...