2017-5-31 - this is a Shaving Horse. 2016-4-23 Deb sent pic wondering what this tool is. Better late than never - thanks Peter. see comments

Shaving Horse.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaving_horse

The shave-horse is commonly used as the preparation of stock prior to turning in a lathe, to roughly form cylindrical billets, the intermediate dressing phase between a crudely dressed raw split log and the final lathe work.

As the name "horse" suggests, the worker sits astride the shaving horse. The clamp is operated by the operator pressing their feet onto a treadle bar below. A foot-actuated clamp holds the work piece securely against pulling forces, especially as when shaped with a drawknife or spoke-shave.[2][3][4]

The shave-horse provides a rapid and sturdy clamp, which allows the operator to use their legs and upper body weight as additional "power" for work. It is considered by some[by whom?] to result in less fatigue than generated by constantly standing.

Shaving green wood with the drawknife or spoke-shave along the grain is far quicker and easier work than turning across it. Skilled operators can produce very fine results with a drawknife and shave-horse, requiring minimal lathe finishing.

Thanks for that, Peter. Now that I know, very old and vague memories of bench and draw knives are loosely floating around my head. I wish I had more time....