They aren't easy to get apart Lee, but you can do it with some small vise grips and persistence...usually. The problem today is yesterday's ignition switches were rated for about 10 amps and if you have HEI, electric wipers, electric fan, etc, etc, you'll burn that switch out tout de suite. If you don't have any of this stuff, then your switch just wore out and you need a new one. If you do, please get some Bosch type relays and start separating high amp devices out and onto relay circuits because 20 amps is about the max for an ignition switch of this type. I've been using one I bought from Amazon (which is an exact copy of one produced 40 or so years ago by Standard Parts and sold under Delco-Remy, Sears, Wards, NAPA and many other names. Here it is:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FDXKNRY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1Good luck. This one fits well into the 1952.
Alternatively, remove the old switch, pour naphtha in it and work off/on/start with the key. That will clean the contacts a bit and may help...or may not.
