detail of whatsit prongs
Whatsit measurments:

     29¼" overall length
      1⅛" diameter of handle at center
      1⅜" wide interior of 'D-handle'  (just wide enough for a two-finger grip)
         5" long prongs
          1" between prongs at tips 

The tool is made of a smoothed fine-grained wood,  with only minor surface scratches. 

The crosspiece of the handle and the area just above where the two prongs fork-off  are reinforced with a steel pin through the wood.  The ends of the pins are riveted over copper washers that are recessed slightly into the surrounding surface of the wood. 

The only signs of wear are on the ends of the two prongs, which are mushroomed-out from having been struck against something with repeated light to medium blows.
The tool is a washing stick, used to stir and move items of laundry in a laundry tub.