Abstract: A gear shifting mechanism comprising a drive shaft with a plurality of freely rotatable gears mounted thereon and means for making driving connection between the drive shaft and any one of the gears. Then through the operation of means actuated by limited reverse rotation of the drive shaft, the connection of the drive shaft is shifted to a second gear while the first gear is released. The shifting of the connection of the drive shaft successively to all of the other gears is accomplished in the same manner, namely, by stopping the drive shaft and reversing its rotation through a limited angle which movement actuates means for connecting the next gear to the drive shaft while releasing the previously connected gear. This procedure is continuously repeated, shifting the connection with the drive shaft progressively through all of the gears in a predetermined sequence and then returning the connection to the first gear.