Do the top racks always have backs on them?

Many antique potboard dressers actually feature open backs. The wall behind the piece would simply show through between the shelves. Closed backs of pine tongue and groove boards do turn up. They were sometimes added later to keep dust off the display or hide an uneven wall.

My house has fairly low ceilings in the dining room and I was wondering if these dressers come in different heights or if they are all standard?

They vary a lot. Because village joiners built them to fit specific farmhouses, you'll find them in all sorts of proportions. Some are tall and narrow, others are low and wide. Always measure your ceiling height before buying one. The rack sections can sometimes be adjusted or modified, but it is better to find a piece that fits the room naturally.

Can I use the bottom board for storing logs?

You can. The solid timber potboard was designed for heavy loads. Iron pots and damp items sat there constantly when the piece was first made. Just watch out for woodworm if you bring raw logs indoors. Placing a discrete liner or tray on the boards might help keep dirt out of the historic grain.

I have noticed some of these dressers have small spice drawers built into the rack but others just have open shelves, why did they make them different?

It often comes down to regional traditions. Certain areas favoured small banks of spice drawers to keep dry goods away from mice. Other counties kept the racks plain for simple plate display. Both styles served their original owners well.

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Antique Potboard Dressers

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Antique potboard dressers are traditional open-based kitchen storage units featuring a sturdy lower shelf for large cooking vessels and a stepped rack above for displaying plates.