<VV> question about manual shifter / shift pattern on early FC

[Steven]

A Newbie question, but I have to ask:

The FC primer reads: "the manual shifter on the early FCs is a little unusual" and that "it is mounted on a vertical panel under the front bench seat and is operated with a different motion (up-down instead of forward-back) than is common".

What does this mean?  Can someone describe the shift pattern and shift lever motion?  

Thanks,

- Steve