Asking the man here, Fink51 being the man:
If I remember right, didn't some of the really old BB training courses have that style leg press, with a BB on the feet. Like Sig Klein, the original York courses, Paramount BB, etc. Seen it before and more than once. Even want to say George Hackenschmidt doing it. Just can't place where I saw it.
I worker with a very old leg press machine, actually a very good old leg press machine. Had a wooden platform for the plates on top and the feet on the bottom of it. And side supports that you turned with the hands, to allow the leg press to go deep down. Had a wedge for the small of the back. Also could do overhead presses on it. Nice functional machine.