Abstract: A brush holding apparatus for at least one carbon brush includes a support plate with at least one brush guide, a spring element constructed and arranged for urging a carbon brush having a longitudinal axis mounted in the brush guide in a direction towards a commutator or slip ring, and a retaining element constructed and arranged for retracting the carbon brush against a force exerted by the spring element or for releasing the brush. The retaining element is slidably supported by the base plate in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of a carbon brush mounted in the brush guide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a base plate (10) for at least one carbon brush (22), comprised of a carbon brush guide that extends outward from the base plate, a spring element (46), via which the carbon brush can be forced in the direction of a commutator or slip ring, and a retaining element (26) that is designed to hold the carbon brush back against the force generated by the spring. In order to be able to hold a carbon brush in a retracted position during its assembly, using a simple construction, without interfering with the assembly, it is proposed that the retaining element (26) be positioned in the base plate (10) such that it can be shifted, and that, when the carbon brush (22) is in a retracted position, the retaining element becomes engaged in a recess (44) in the carbon brush.