Pre Take-off checks in the Britannia:
Flying controls -
Unlocked, bolt gone, runs free, indicators checked.
The copilot moved the locking lever that was on the right hand side of the centre console. You could hear the locking bolt unlocking. The controls were then free and we did a full and free check. The flight engineer then checked the indicators on the side of the cockpit behind the copilot. If there was no significant wind outside, they would all show the controls fully drooped, although they could be in any position - as long as they had moved from the central position, we knew they were free. The engineer checked that they all floated up to a central position during the take-off roll.
Amazing what you remember from 40+ years ago - just don't ask me what I did yesterday!