I don't have the media with me but I do know for certain that pre-PCC trolleys were operated with a 'point' controller and a brake valve.

The controller has a reverser for switching moves and (I think) around 9 or 10 "points". From 1 through 5 the traction motors are in series, and then on up are in parallel. Each point also cuts out a bank of resistors, so at 1st you have all 4 resistors active but at 4th you have only one. You can't "go down" points unless it's all the way to zero, and you can only hold full series and full parallel.

There's two types, Type K (all 600 volts of the current goes through brass fingers in the control stand, MU running not possible) and Type HL (controller and current are isolated, and MU running is possible).