Old Smoker's stand.....

This has been in the attic for years.  My sister gave it to me and thought that our dad made it in high school.  I do not think so.  It is old, but manufactured, I am almost sure.  It was in mom's house when we cleaned it after her passing.  I never remember seeing it while growing up.  I bet she picked it up somewhere after daddy died.  Cute, but I wish some of you farmgirls lived nearer, as you might take it off my hands.  I am ready to say bye-bye to it.  We don't have any old smokers in our house :)  And I am in the mood to let go of lots of stuff.  Still it is cute, and is lined with copper.  Why were they lined with copper?