Yes, it sounds like the old fashioned floor frame. The quilt back is secured to the long poles on the top and bottom. The batt is layed on top while it is fully extended. The top is then pinned in place on the top of the sandwich. When everything is flat and secured the side poles are attached by bolts or clamps and the whole square quilt is taut. Everyone sits around the edge and as a section is finished, the quilt is rolled around the bars to allow access to the center of the quilt. It works great and if you have a lot of people quilting, the quilting can go quite quickly.
Since most people don't have the room to leave a full size frame out, this type of quilting is disappearing. Today most people hand bast their quilts before putting them in a hoop to hand quilt themselves. There is nothing as great as a floor frame and a good old fashioned quilting bee!