A pneumatic anode positioning apparatus is disclosed for positioning any number of a plurality of anodes relative to a cathode in an electrolytic cell. This apparatus comprises a means for determining the desired anode position for each of the anodes and converting the amount of movement necessary to attain such position to a number of increments of predetermined displacement. The apparatus has a pneumatic, bidirectional drive means for incrementally rotating a substantially horizontally disposed shaft, a plurality of vertically disposed jack screws each connected to an anode or anodes and provided with means therebetween for changing incremental rotary motion to incremental, vertically longitudinal anode motion, a plurality of worm gears connected at their outer periphery to the shaft and at their inner periphery to an actuator nut disposed concentrically about a top portion of the jack screw, and pneumatic means for selectively engaging each actuator nut to its respective jack screw to rotate the jack screw incrementally in response to the incremental rotary movement of the shaft, the engaging means being responsive to the means for determining the desired anode position.