Primitive Old Wooden Stool with Iron Handle painted tramp frame There is an additional hinged

There is an additional hinged mat (which I have folded back to photograph the drawing) that lies over the front of the drawing (easily removed) with plastic to protect it (shown in last photo)

A little research lead me to discover that this drawing must have been made after a woodcut first published as a plate in Thomas Hood's Whims and Oddities: in prose and verse

made by The Embossing Company in Albany New York

After his death in 1852

Clerk: 'I'm not asleep

Primitive Old Wooden Stool with Iron Handle painted tramp frame There is an additional hingedThis one is a bit of a mystery to me, which is part of why I like it. I'd think that the iron "handle" at one end with serrated edge around its flat, nearly round end served a specific purpose. perhaps allowing a small vise or clamp of some sort to attach to it in order to do some sort of work? Or, maybe it was just a make do solution to making the stool easier to move from one place to another? I don't know (through would love to know, if you do!)