Modern Vespa

Now onto the electrics. There's some doco that says that the brake switch is usually closed unless opened. However the vna /Allstate pic that I found doesn't seem to support the theory
It looks like current comes off the coil, thru the switch and then into the globe
Plus I have the weird switch in front of the pivot, which means that pressing the pedal OPENS the standard switch

That's correct. Those Allstate stators have a separate coil for the brake, and 1/2 the size of the other two coils. AC power leaves the coil and goes to the brake switch. Once the contact is engaged, the AC power goes to the brake light. It really is that simple.