I think, if he was doing it again, , the maker of it would have put loads of yacht varnish on it. As it is, we put twists of paper towel round the bases of the uprights to soak up any drips and renew them from time to time.
As I said, strictly a back sacristy gadget!
Just thought - any old-fashioned hardware stores in your area? You may find a multi-rod towel rail that grandmothers used to use for tea=towels and you could adapt it? ISTR they were plastic coated…