Unfortunately the details of these fellows has been lost but I have to say I have certainly never seen this version of the Human Anvil feat before. The Human Anvil feat always goes over well with an audience but the stakes have been raised with this version: on a bed on nails, with an assistant chopping away at a large log with an ax!

UPDATE: we found out that the fellow chopping wood is 17-time world champion axeman Leo Appo.

SOLVED: The “hitee’ here is great Australian strongman Don Athaldo, this took place in New South Wales in 1933.