DaleHeideman

Syeates observations seem reasonable to me. What appeared to be hex-head screws about a half-inch in from the ends of the template are attached to the center of the parallel bars. These obviously keep the template centered, if I am correct. Since the bottom of the template must be relieved to allow the parallel metal arms to work, my guess is that the fence-like wood strip on the front is there to provide stability that was lost by the relief cuts on the bottom of the template. If I am correct, there'll be another one on the backside to support that side of the template as well.

It is difficult to see that the end stops seem to have been routed out so that they fit down over the template so that they will remain parallel. Initially I thought that the cap screw and the holddown screw provided that function. Then I realized that the end stop on the left was beyond the hex head hold-down screw, and I looked closer to see the ears on the end stops.