Local farmers still run something similar to sharpen white oak split fence posts. Thanks for the pics, as they bring back memories and can still hear the high pitched sing of the saw blade through the wood.
I remember watching an older fellow saw wood on one with the cradle. The cradle would not return fully and he would always grab the wood where he was going to make the next cut. So when he moved the wood, his hand was always directly in front of the running saw blade. As a boy I wasn't supposed to say anything to him, but I did. I took the chewing out, but at least I didn't have to watch his fingers go flying.