This was the first of the heavy tanks that could be driven by a single driver, without requiring him to signal orders inside to others working the secondary gear levers.
The old gate change meant that one did have to understand the mechanism of a clutch and the use of a gear lever.
It has nothing whatever to do with the problem which is before you as to what you do with the gear lever.
Who would have thought in 1917 that many cars would have automatic gears by now, instead of a gear lever?
That happens because phones are often located well below dashboard level on a centre console near the gear lever.
Other phones have a dialling facility on a separate console, possibly fixed near the radio or somewhere near the gear lever.
A three speed transmission was used with centrally located gear lever.
The only way to sleep in cabin was on the floor, next to gear lever.
