Question for the Diehard Manual Transmission Crowd

[FoMoJo]

It seemed a bit odd that column shifters were regarded as an innovation at the time.  Prior to then, most cars had shift levers that sprung up from the floor; usually a bent metal rod about 3 feet long.  It tended to get in the way of anyone sitting in the middle of the front bench seat.  The first car I drove, though very young and only once, had a 3 speed manual with a shift lever, more of a branch than a stick.  I remember it being quite wobbly and a long reach from 1st to 2nd gear.