Help! What is this?
 

My mother-in-law gave this to me and asked if I could fix it. It is broken, and missing a part, and I do not know what it is to look it up and find out how to fix it. Can anyone help me out?

I don't have a clue. Ask her what it is or what is it used for.

Looks like a mini clothes dryer to me. Good for dish towels, etc. Don't know the scale, of course, but I have seen items like that for that purpose.

I was going to say the same thing. They were hung on the wall and folded up, like an umbrella, when not in use.

I feel like I've been in the "way-back machine"! Clothes dryer and my grandmother's hung on the wall by the wood stove.

similar one.... http://www.icollector.com/Antique-Wo...Dryer_i9734138
more like it....http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Rust...item3cc8f2c911
and ...http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=...+clothes+dryer

I think it hangs over and is fastened to a door. Then you have the prongs of wood to hang things on.

The one we had was a little different, but it was attached to the end of the cabinet by the sink and was used to hang dishcloths and dishtowels to dry.

I also think it is to hold dish towels, but it looks like something out of the "Edward Scissorhands" movie. LOL. :)

I think it hangs over the door to hang dish towels,etc. on.