Have you ever found something that’s weirdly intriguing, precisely because you have no idea what its purpose might be? I think we’ve all been there.
The good news is that answers are out there — assuming you’re proactive enough to take a pic of said item and ask the internet masses what it might be.
“Half yellow, half transparent washed up on a northern African coast.”
This big, mysterious ball is a buoy for measuring waves. It won’t do much good on land so they should just push it back into the surf.
“Some metal sticks I found in my great uncle’s house.”
You’re looking at a simple game that can also be played with matchsticks. The markings on the case suggest it was a giveaway from a pharmaceutical company.
“Just found this in a backpack I ordered online. The flexible bit had a metal end. So I plugged it into itself and it immediately began ticking ominously.”
It sounds like some kind of time bomb, but it’s totally safe. This is a battery-equipped anti-theft device and it’s ticking because the battery is low.
“Found on the beach in Sandy Hook, New Jersey.”
This object was actually once part of a living thing. It’s a pharyngeal tooth plate of some kind of fish.
“Strange suitcase device — antique shop owner is trying to find answers.”
This appears to be an exposure table for making silkscreens. It can be set up on a set of legs, over a light source.
“Metal covering on the floor inside of new house, screwed to the ground.”
Here’s a handy gizmo that I didn’t know I wanted. Basically, the cover can be pried off to reveal some power outlets — super handy for lamps that aren’t near a wall outlet.
“This picture was taken during a rainstorm in South Africa.”
This isn’t some kind of portal to the heavens, it’s simply a camera glitch. A raindrop was whizzing by the lens and got illuminated by the camera flash.
“Random gauge thingy found in a box of military radio manuals.”
Since it’s labeled “malfunction isolation,” it’s a safe bet that this device is used to troubleshoot electronics in aviation systems.
“Something my friend found in the woods.”
This slab of concrete looks like a small bench but it’s actually a shooting rest — a place for people to steady their arms while taking part in target practice.
“This was moving like a slow boat and had a guy’s head poking out on top.”
Until it was identified, this was literally a UFO — unidentified floating object. Turns out it’s a weird homemade boat called the Bubbleboat .
“What is the gold tap thing above the stove and what does it do?”
These tap-looking things are, well, taps. The idea is that chefs can easily fill large pots with water without having to lug them back to the sink.
“Approximately 5 feet long harness quality leather with signs of sweat marks from animal use. Horse family does not recognize it as horse tack.”
Even though a horse family didn’t recognize this, it is indeed related to horses. It’s basically a decoration that hangs from the saddle.
“Scoopy doodad found in a junk drawer.”
Here’s a highly specific tool that was once part of a Sunbeam mixer. It’s designed to steadily drip oil into a blend of mayonnaise.
“Old mechanical device found in a dumpster. [Extremely] heavy.”
Before we had cellphones, we had pocket calculators. Before we had calculators, we had mechanical calculators — also known as adding machines — like this one here.
“Found in a sewing kit. Metal, pretty thin. Can’t decipher the etching on the wider part.”
Here’s a device that’s, well, kind of gross. I also had no idea it was a thing. Yes, folks, this tool is designed specifically for picking earwax.
“Something strange I saw outside my window, it looked like a briefcase or lunchbox at first, then it opened to a screen and knobs, it was held up and seemed like a single picture was taken.”
There’s a lot to unpack here but the answer is pretty simple. This is a device to measure local field intensity for AM and FM radio signals.
“What is this keyhole in the wall next to an outer door?”
This is a handy little device that some buildings install to make it easier for the fire department to access a key in case of an emergency.
“My security camera caught this individual with a large device, possibly scanning for something?”
Putting aside the fact that this may be an alien, not a human, they’re holding a device that scans for cars with keyless entry.
“Little silver box. Looks like a pendant for a necklace.”
It could be a pendant if you really wanted it to be, but it’s actually a small box for matches.
“Very heavy [brass] pot I found thrifting today.
A pot is pretty on the nose, though it’s more specifically a planter. A beautifully ornate one at that, featuring a form of Arabic calligraphy on it called Kufic .
RELATED STORIES
“Glazed ceramic with open mouth?”
With the angle, it’s a little hard to spot, but the tail of this creature is actually unglazed ceramic. This is important seeing as it’s an automatic plant waterer. Stick the tail in some soil, pour water into its mouth, and the water will seep through the porous tail into the dirt.
“Found in a [friend’s] front yard. Couple inches long, maybe some sort of clamp?”
Mostly used to open cans of primer or glue, the round end goes around lids and helps pop them open without risk of damage.
“What is the purpose of this ring?”
This ring’s purpose is purely decorative. It’s left over from the 2012 Olympic games in London, meant to symbolize the Olympic rings.
“In a UK primary school. I remember seeing these as a kid but can’t remember what they’re for!”
Here I was, so confident that it was a skateboard rack or something. But no, place two of these down and put a pole in one of the rungs and you’ve made yourself a hurdle.
“What is this fancy-looking bike rack type thing. There were two in front of some casual dining restaurants. About 4 ft tall.”
Not quite a bike rack, instead that middle post holds garbage cans. They were likely removed before this photo for disposal or cleaning.
“What is this 10 inch rubber-coated steel ball used for?”
Pretty simple, but neat that it was identified all the same, this is the ball from a ball check valve.
“Magnet on one side and a tiny blade inside.”
This little device opens food bags with ease, meant to be kept on your fridge with that magnet for easy access.
“WITT saw it at a local auction labeled as mystery tool. Looks like it’s got 2 cranks and maybe a turntable?”
This is an old piece of canning equipment, namely a sealing machine.
“A cement rolling block with pipe handle outside old Massachusetts home from 1934.”
If you don’t quite feel like mowing your lawn, try using this lawn roller to tamp it down for a while and give your lawn an even appearance.
“My neighbor (who has recently installed an Amazon doorbell camera, which is weird for The Netherlands) has just put this on his roof. It seems to be aimed directly at my female housemate’s bedroom window and she is concerned it’s another camera.”
This looks like a camera of some kind but it’s actually a surveying tool that measures subsidence — basically the process of buildings gradually settling downward.
“Anyone have an idea what this was used for? It clips on to counter or table.”
Talk about portability, this is a clip-on ashtray.
“Strange object from Tiffany’s mysteriously given to my wife by her grandmother while refusing to say what it was.”
The description of this object lends it an air of mystery, but it’s actually pretty straightforward: this is a drink muddler, used for stirring and mixing drinks.
