The world is full of purpose-built objects ; things whose purpose is so obvious and so evident that you immediately know what they’re intended for.
Conversely, the world is also full of baffling objects , stuff so weird and obscure that you can never be sure what they’re for. If you’re stumped with an object falling into the latter category, it’s worth posting it over on the r/whatisthisthing subreddit .
“Red, hexagonal outbuilding in the Historical District of Philadelphia.”
The more some things change, the more they stay the same. Although this thing is very old, it’s simply a guard station — not much different from the ones that modern parking lot attendants sit in.
“Inscribed square in back yard. Original thought was pet grave- but 1950 would predate all the houses on my street by about 20 years.”
This one’s interesting: it’s just an old paving stone manufactured by Varnon. It was installed upside-down, which explains why the batch number is visible.
“Mystery spike found next to my doormat. Pointy enough to do damage, but not needle-sharp. The brass piece screws off the bottom.”
Some users thought this was the pointy part of a dart, but it actually appears to be a reusable toothpick. Apparently reusable toothpicks are a thing.
“Circuit thing / electrical component someone left in my car after breaking in.”
This is the cartridge, or needle, or whatever you might want to call it, from a record player. It was nice of the breaker-inner to leave a gift behind, I suppose.
“Small (7cm) green thing with handle & ridges in top.”
I thought this was a kids’ beach toy or something, but Reddit’s incredible minds have found out exactly what it is: a Lakeland bean slicer (or at least half of one).
“What is this shelf in my wall? It might just be a regular shelf but the bottom slot makes me think it has a special purpose.”
This is indeed a purpose-built shelf. The top shelf is for a landline, the bottom shelf is for a phone book…whatever those things are.
“Spiky things on the ground at the petrol station.”
You know the spiky things they put on surfaces so people won’t lie down on them? This is the same idea, only for birds. Our feathered friends must like roosting in this one spot.
“What is this? A small Bakelite toilet container with a spoon.”
This is a novelty item — the toilet motif should have tipped you off — and its purpose is for holding salt or mustard. The spoon is the right size, at least.
“Expanding metal ring with ornate cap and handles.”
This thing, which comes off kind of like an old-school fidget spinner, is the opening clasp for a vintage purse. If you’ve gone thrifting for purses, you may have come across something similar.
“Found off the coast of California in Bolinas.”
It may have been found on a beach, but it has nothing to do with the beach. This is the warming element from an electric blanket. Somewhere along the way, it became detached and wound up in the ocean.
“Dismantling pallets and the nails are leaving pink behind in the holes. It’s powdery and the same pink stuff is on the nails as well.”
The pink residue comes from vinyl that’s attached to the nails to make them easier to drive.
“What is this small trench-like structure found in the countryside near Glossop, UK?”
Unless you’re deeply immersed in the world of grouse shooting, this is probably unfamiliar to you. For those who do shoot grouse, they’ll immediately recognize this as a blind for shooting the birds.
“A fork with four prongs, with a cut in the middle, ending with a hole. Found in a restaurant.”
Anyone will tell you that this is a fork, but what kind of fork is it? Apparently, it’s a fish fork. The hole in the middle is for picking out fish bones.
“What is this chrome thing near the toilet and the TP holder?”
This is more than just a place to awkwardly stack toilet paper rolls. It’s intended as a magazine holder, so you have something to read while using the restroom.
“Came across this while hiking behind an old mine in southwestern Pennsylvania.”
Most hunting blinds are small and utilitarian, but this hunting blind doesn’t listen to convention. It’s an impressive construction, complete with an elevated tower on the left side.
“Is this a shock collar? My dog was wearing it after coming home from boarding.”
This is, unfortunately, a shock collar. OP noted that they didn’t read the paperwork in full before dropping the doggo off. They’re likely to avoid this place going forward.
“What’s this device mounted under my office desk?”
![Image credit: reddit | [deleted]](https://static.diply.com/5cf15dd7-6343-4f3c-be42-f986daf2b9d0.webp)
If you’ve ever wondered how some workplaces know exactly when you’re at your desk, this gadget might be the answer. Occupancy sensors like this detect when people sit down and when they leave.
“This wooden platform at the top of a mountain in West Virginia – like a ramp to nowhere – about 16 feet square.”
It might look like a ramp to nowhere, but it’s actually a ramp to the sky. Paragliders or hang gliders use launches like this to set off.
“Inside my GF’s house; a couple feet away from the thermostat. The house makes a loud groaning sound when the knob is turned, the knob itself makes a ticking sound, like an old-timer.”
This is an old-timer indeed, as it appears to be an old Honeywell thermostat (a ‘ Time-o-Stat ‘) dating back to the 1950s.
“What is this thing? Steel container with two locking doors, one large, one small, with a full division inside between the two.”
This thing is known as a vasculum, and it’s designed as a way to carry plant specimens around without crushing them.
