Is Line Clear wrote: " .... I loved the way you could see it withdraw FPL, grind its way across and replace FPL. Simple but effective. .... "
Hoping not to prompt a flurry of slightly off-topic posts similar to my words following :-
I wasn't personally aware that Westinghouse had produced a machine which worked in this way.
It sounds similar to the point machines used in the 1932 resignalling of King's Cross by SGE (presumably a product of their own), with the FPL rod emerging from one end, rather than the side with the switches drive rod, and passing via two cranks to operate a standard-looking mechanical FPL plunger through the stretcher in the centre of the four-foot.
They seemed to operate remarkably quickly, with a full reversal taking only about 3 seconds.
IIRC hand operation required the crank handle to be inserted vertically into the top cover.