Woodward used 'The Automatic' as a model name for some time after the mechanism that it was coined for had passed out of use. The original Automatic was a underlever opened & cocked sidelock using a Purdey type double bite bolt. One of the neat features in the patent and found on all the true Automatic guns that I have worked on is a interceptor sear that is controlled by the top tang safety. I have never seen a Woodward Automtic that was a triggerplate design, all have been sidelocks. However a very similar lever was used by Grant in their triggerplate coil sprung actions, although they didn't use the model name 'Automatic'.
I posted some photos of the the Woodward action a short while back. The link to the post is
http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=497655&page=1
