Boot Scrapers, Part 6: Missing Something

Two boot scrapers on the same block. First, a fairly ordinary wrought-iron scraper next to an ornate cast-iron newel post: This is quite similar to the last scraper, except for the boring (in my opinion) curved bar over the top of the foot opening. I like the figured lower edge of the scraper blade. The presence of the areaway fence on the right raises an unpleasant point: after you’ve scraped mud (or less pleasant forms of ooze) off the sole of your shoe, where does it go? In this case, it seems to fall onto your lower fence and then possibly into your basement-entrance areaway. A few houses down the street: Very similar design with a round newel instead of a square one. Same boring curved bar. But something’s missing… I assume the blade rusted until it was unsightly or falling apart and/or the connections to the balusters failed. But it sure looks strange to have a boot scraper with no way to scrape your boots.