I've asked several dealers and an auctioneer as to the purpose of this item. The initial belief was a cuff/sleeve ironing board. However, all other ironing boards that I have seen have the elevation hardware tucked between the halves and open to a fixed height. Additionally, the progressive elevation ratchet stumps everyone. The ratchet is comprised of a simple strap hinge and a progressively notched rack. The unit is well made, though seemly homemade. The wood is most likely white oak and the metal parts are brass. To compound the mystery, we have a matching pair!
I have seen adjustable sleeve boards before, but the hardware on the outer edges does look dodgy - too many ways to tear a lining................
I don't know what it is either, but here are a couple more reasons I don't think it's a sleeve board...a sleeve board should be padded, as an ironing board is...and a sleeve board would be fully accessible from one side to allow the sleeve to be slipped on the board and rotated while ironing, thus avoiding a crease as would happen if ironing sleeve flat.
