Jerry 53,
Welcome to the land of Stovebolts. I have never heard of a steering stabilizer on a '53. It could have been some strange option, but I don't think so.
When properly setup and adjusted, these old rigs steer pretty straight and true. Maybe there was a problem someone else couldn't resolve and went to a stabilizer as a band-aid.
More knowledge is sure to come...again, welcome.
Stuart
