A stopper rod positioning and control apparatus for control of a molten metal flow through a nozzle disposed in the bottom of a molten metal holding reservoir, the apparatus comprising: a lift apparatus centered on a substantially vertically oriented longitudinal axis (Y 1), the lift apparatus having an inner tube telescopically mounted within an outer tube, the inner tube being reciprocally movable along the substantially vertically oriented longitudinal axis (Y 1); an in-line drive means for providing a reciprocal movement of the inner tube along the substantially oriented longitudinal axis; a lower ring bearing having a lower ring bearing outer race and a lower ring bearing inner race, the central axis (Y 3) of the lower ring bearing offset from the substantially vertically oriented longitudinal axis (Y 1), a means for suitably fixing the lower ring bearing outer race to the telescoping end of the inner tube; an upper ring bearing having an upper ring bearing outer race and an upper ring bearing inner race, the central axis (Y 4) of the upper ring bearing offset from the substantially vertically oriented longitudinal axis (Y 1) and the central axis (Y 3) of the lower ring bearing, the upper ring bearing outer race suitably fixed to the lower ring bearing inner race and rotatable with the lower ring bearing inner race; a locking plate suitably fixed to the upper ring bearing inner race for rotating the upper ring bearing inner race about the central axis (Y 4) of the upper ring bearing; a brake assembly for locking the locking plate in position; an arm having a first arm end and a second arm end the first arm end suitably fixed to the locking plate and rotatable about the central axis (Y 4) of the upper ring bearing, the second arm end extending at least in the horizontal direction away from the substantially vertically oriented longitudinal axis (Y 1); and a stopper rod depending from the second arm end; whereby the stopper rod is aligned with the nozzle by the combined movements of rotating the lower ring bearing inner race about the central axis (Y 3) of the lower ring bearing and rotating the upper ring bearing inner race to an aligned stopper rod position, then locking the aligned stopper rod position by locking the locking plate in position, and thereafter reciprocally moving the stopper rod above the nozzle by reciprocally moving the inner tube along the substantially vertically oriented longitudinal axis (Y 1). a lift apparatus centered on a substantially vertically oriented longitudinal axis (Y 1), the lift apparatus having an inner tube telescopically mounted within an outer tube, the inner tube being reciprocally movable along the substantially vertically oriented longitudinal axis (Y 1); an in-line drive means for providing a reciprocal movement of the inner tube along the substantially oriented longitudinal axis; a lower ring bearing having a lower ring bearing outer race and a lower ring bearing inner race, the central axis (Y 3) of the lower ring bearing offset from the substantially vertically oriented longitudinal axis (Y 1), a means for suitably fixing the lower ring bearing outer race to the telescoping end of the inner tube; an upper ring bearing having an upper ring bearing outer race and an upper ring bearing inner race, the central axis (Y 4) of the upper ring bearing offset from the substantially vertically oriented longitudinal axis (Y 1) and the central axis (Y 3) of the lower ring bearing, the upper ring bearing outer race suitably fixed to the lower ring bearing inner race and rotatable with the lower ring bearing inner race; a locking plate suitably fixed to the upper ring bearing inner race for rotating the upper ring bearing inner race about the central axis (Y 4) of the upper ring bearing; a brake assembly for locking the locking plate in position; an arm having a first arm end and a second arm end the first arm end suitably fixed to the locking plate and rotatable about the central axis (Y 4) of the upper ring bearing, the second arm end extending at least in the horizontal direction away from the substantially vertically oriented longitudinal axis (Y 1); and a stopper rod depending from the second arm end;