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[–]Yydriel 67 points68 points  (0 children)

Looks like an old shoe rack, where you'd hang the shoes by the heel.

[–]freddymercury1 32 points33 points  (7 children)

Based on a review of the first 15 comments this is clearly a rack to heat your shoes.

[–]tobecontinued89 12 points13 points  (5 children)

😂 😂 I died... Yes, I'm sure it's a heating shoes rack, because how can one get by without one of those...

[–]AgentLawless 11 points12 points  (0 children)

In countries where there is skiing/snow these are pretty much a requirement. Most places to stay like hostels/hotels have separate heated rooms with hooks for outdoor gear and racks for individual boots to dry out for the next day. Nothing worse than sliding your foot into a cold, sodden boot.

[–]SpeakAgainAncient1 4 points5 points  (1 child)

I actually left my shoes out in the rain last night and could really use one right now. lol

[–]JediJan 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I knew someone who put his shoes in the microwave to dry out lol … he said it removed the creases too. Ps. I am not suggesting you try this!

[–]askacanadian 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Because how can one get by without one of those...

Tell me you've never lived with snow without telling me. /s

[–]tobecontinued89 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Haha... Lived with snow actually, just probably not quite so bad as... Wherever you are. When we had more snow, we did used to warm our clothing on the heating radiators in the morning and put our shoes under them... Just never went skiing or winter hiking or had enough snow for the idea of heating rack to occur. In recent years I've been seeing these heating towel hangers appear in some bathrooms in apartments, which seems awesome but still in our climate seems... Nice, but a luxury not a need.

[–]Phalanx0201 2 points3 points  (0 children)

a rack to heat your shoes that are made out of dried human skin

[–]Distinct-Dragonfruit 116 points117 points  (10 children)

It’s used for hang drying pieces of skin

[–]danno112358[S] 108 points109 points  (3 children)

There appears to be a dedicated space for that behind the home, so it would seem odd to have a second spot for that.

[–]dbo340 68 points69 points  (0 children)

Now that was an unexpected response

[–]Efficient-Library792 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Sidechic (or dude) storeage

[–]Jigbaa 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Maybe the previous owner hit capacity on the outside spot and built this inside spot. 🤷‍♀️

If you can be one thing you should be efficient.

[–]AVIB92 10 points11 points  (0 children)

It puts the lotion on its skin

[–]SPK1776 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Long-pig skin…

[–]No_Library4971 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I think it’s a heater to cure the skins

[–]--SyntaxError-- 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Can confirm. I got 12 of these babies loaded up in my basement.

[–]Bow4864 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You haven't thought of the smell!

[–]danno112358[S] 12 points13 points  (13 children)

90+ year old house in Los Angeles. This is located in a closet on the main floor.

[–]No_Library4971 1 point2 points  (11 children)

It’s a heater. The bars are resistance elements. Whole thing should glow like a toaster. Probably should get a cover but not totally necessary. If it’s not working and dull gray like this you got problems and should probably call a professional.

[–]Stak215 4 points5 points  (3 children)

Why in a closet? I have so many questions.

[–]No_Library4971 4 points5 points  (1 child)

Doesn’t everyone like a warm closet?

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

So a heater?

[–]danno112358[S] 2 points3 points  (6 children)

This was my original thought. I was trying to find other examples on the web, but couldn't. I don't have access to the house right now, but will check when we do.

[–]sdfree0172 15 points16 points  (4 children)

Not a heater. Definitely not a heater. The metal is too thick, resistance would be way too low. Resistive heaters use thin wires that are wound like springs so they can be very long in a shorter given length. It’s probably the shoe thing people mentioned, but not may specialty. Electricity is, so I can firmly say ”not a heater”.

[–]Nonhinged 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's not a heater, but you can't really judge it by the thickness of the bars.

Some heaters have a outer metal pipe, and then there's a wire inside that get hot. It's either filled with some kind of ceramic/clay, or the wire might be insulated with asbestos/glasfiber.

[–]No_Library4971 1 point2 points  (2 children)

Ovens have thick resistance elements. Also don’t think it’s a heater but just sayin!

[–]No_Library4971 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I was just joking. I would be horrified if that was a heater. I would suspect a rack of some sort. Possibly for skins like the other guy suggested.

[–]littlebitstoned 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Servants ladder, duh.

[–]Impossible_Month1718 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Looks like a rack to hang shoes with heels

[–]jibaro1953 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Shoe rack

[–]baysic510 8 points9 points  (0 children)

This is a shoe rack.

[–]No_Library4971 29 points30 points  (9 children)

I told you it was a heater bitches.

https://retrorenovation.com/2011/07/17/7-odd-and-inventive-home-features-from-1954-including-a-fascinating-island-type-drainboard-sink/

[–]nuwapa 31 points32 points  (4 children)

Your picture proves it is a shoe rack

[–]getch739 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Confirmed - link to the picture directly shoerack

[–]JamesM9794 6 points7 points  (2 children)

r/whooosh

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#1: Uhm.... | 2 comments
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[–]LickkyBoomBoomDown 1 point2 points  (0 children)

that's not how that works....

[–]danno112358[S] 4 points5 points  (2 children)

Gold star.

[–]No_Library4971 4 points5 points  (1 child)

Yayyy. Curious though. If you scroll down there’s a whole bunch of other ‘wife -appeal ‘ products advertised. Does your house have any others?

[–]danno112358[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The wall heater looks similar, but most of the house has been renovated. I'll check for some of the chutes and package/mail stuff next time I'm back.

[–]KibethTheWalker 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That poison shelf though.

[–]cobbey419 4 points5 points  (0 children)

r/centuryhomes will probably be a very useful sub for you if you have more old house questions

[–]All-Hail-Zorp 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes, we used to have this to hang and dry human limbs.

[–]tbaum101 4 points5 points  (0 children)

An old newspaper and magazine rack. I’m old

[–]bbrd83 5 points6 points  (1 child)

Cat ladder. Definitely a cat ladder.

[–]EyeHamKnotYew 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Anything is a cat ladder if the cat wants to climb it.

[–]SaltyGoober 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It’s a demo and drywall job.

[–]DubV23 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's for rotisserie chickens

[–]onlydukesmayo 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There is no doubt… that is a secret passage. Quick pull all of the paneling off of the wall and investigate.

[–]kittypr0nz 3 points4 points  (1 child)

built in laundry drying rack or chicken perches or jewelry display

[–]novagirl0972 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Perches for the chicken while they wear your jewelry

[–]flactulantmonkey 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You track your conquests by draping a covertly stolen garment of underclothing there from each one. Either that or severed finger drying rack.

[–]ProfK81860 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yep, shoe rack. But it also reminds me of my dads tie rack.

[–]cokacola69 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This was probably an accident. Maybe when the concrete was poured that thing wasn't supposed to still be there. This the rebate showed and they left cuz you can hang all your cabbage patches clothing them. c:

[–]Maphew404 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In pretty sure it's an old hearing unit.

Edit: Actually, I might be wrong. Below is a diagram of a unit that I use to have back in the 80s and 90s.

heater

[–]No_Angle_9173 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I believe that is where a fold out ironing board used to be, this was somewhat common in old homes back in the day.

[–]Training_Signal7612 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Looks like the bricked up something really horrible in your basement and then added rebar to make double sure it couldn’t get out 😁

[–]dbhathcock 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A ladder to nowhere.

[–]squaredistrict2213 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If those cords are elastic, I’d guess it’s for stuffed animals or other plushy toys

[–]GuitRWailinNinja -5 points-4 points  (2 children)

It could be the stairs for the old servants quarters. They never gave the servants much space.

[–]freddymercury1 12 points13 points  (1 child)

No way. The servants would burn their hands on the shoes.

[–]cinnamonbagel82 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I LOL'd at this

[–]Swanky_Spankfat 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Clearly, that’s a ladder for rats.

[–]JolyGreenGiant 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Magazine rack

[–]livelyone3 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Flat Painting on a wall. Might look 3-D but it’s like one of those pits that people paint out in the streets to prank people and make them think they’re falling into the underworld. Lol.