I wasn’t inspecting this house, just chatting with an agent at an open house. And I don’t have a photo ( I know, stupid). But we both noticed that along all of the exterior walls inside there was a 2x6 fastened by lag bolts/nuts and washers about every 8-10 inches to the top of the wall right where it meets the ceiling. This was a 1920’s solid brick bungalow with a hip roof and a large overhang. I expected to see the metal stars with the bolt heads on the outside of the brick, but no. Nothing showing on the outside. Anyone know what that is?
This looks like a @mcyr question, Some type of ceiling ledger?
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Thinking the same thing Scott. Interior support for joist and/or rafters as addition after sagging???
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I don’t think it has anything to do with sagging, but let’s see what the others say, Its hard to know what they were thinking back in 1920, I don’t know.
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The 8 to 10 inch lag spacing throws me off. It’s lagged into something and would make a little sense if it were studs. But never have seen studs spaced that close. I agree, that others will know. Just another learning thread for me. 
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Well I didn’t measure but eyeballing it, they were definitely closer than 16 inch center. I’m really curious where the other end of the bolts are. This had to have been added long after building it in 1920something. It’s pretty ugly “trim” inside the house and obviously doesn’t go with the typical wood trim in these bungalows. But this is a solid, 2 wythe brick house, no studs in exterior walls.
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A few things to think about, could it have been a lag screw as opposed to a bolt? Could it be possible that it’s there for aesthetics as opposed to purpose? Really don’t know, but trying to help out…
Could you tell if the 2 x 6 was original, or added at a later date?
(Ignore the focus on bricks and look at the method of joist installation. You shoiuld be able to see several scenarios for what you observed.)
1920’s interior wall assembly construction would be plaster and lath.
Studding irregular as well. I have seen 12"X3" inch planked framed sheathing with studding, again large dimensional 4"x4" studs than plaster and lath.
Likely for crown molding.
Any old removed fasteners penitration damage?.
