What is the purpose of this small block on the handlebar? What is the purpose of this small block on a handlebar?



This article on "bicycle archeology" (in Dutch) describes that they have almost completely disappeared, and are found only on very old bicycles.  It does not really describe the purpose, except indirectly that "nowadays we don't care about scratches".  But I fail to see how this block would prevent scratches.

What is the purpose?
My bikes had one. You would simply put your bike against the wall with just that "thing"  and your saddle touching the wall. 

It would prevent scratches and made sure your bike doesn't fall. 

That thing was made of some sort of rubber/plastic so your handlebars wouldn't simple "slide"  down the wall making your bike fall when you put it against it. 

Also. Because of the rubbery consistency of the "thing"  you could put your bike against a wall in weird angles that would otherwise cause your bike to fall.