1890s iron bed or not?

This bed is obviously late 1800s style, but is it actually of the period or reproduction?
The bed has apparently been re-painted. Originally it would've been black.

 

Looks original to me. What are the second set of legs for?

 

In that picture it's folded / in its short form. When the headboard (or the other one) is pulled and the bed is in its full length, the third set of legs is located in the middle of the bed, as additional support.

 

I recall a "leg" arrangement such as this on what we called a "youth bed" back in the day. It expanded (with a new mattress each time) as the kid grew. It was a joke that you if "you keep that up, you won't live to get a new mattress".

 

Looks the real deal to me.