29 Objects People Couldn't Name, But The Internet Got Them Answers

I'm not going to lie, this thing looks kind of creepy. I would probably assume it was put in there for some kind of weird science experiment.

But apparently, it's just a TV antenna. At some point in time, they were installed in the attic rather than on the roof. Who knew?

I was today-years-old when I learned that door jamb switches were a thing. They're usually connected to a light source, so when the door closes, it turns a light on or off (depending on how it's rigged).

That can be pretty useful for bathroom trips in the middle of the night!

If you're a diabetic, you probably already know what this is. But for people who have never tested their blood before, it would be pretty hard to identify a testing strip at a glance.

The fact that this one was just lying around on a pier is a little concerning, though.

This seemingly random collection of wooden spokes is a valet stand. It's supposed to be used to hang suit pants and jackets. You can buy more modern ones from a bunch of different stores, but this one is a bit more vintage. It even has a little tray to hold your keys or wallet.

You know that little hammer thing the doctor uses to tap your knee during a checkup? Otherwise known as a reflex hammer?

Well, this is that. Rather, it's an antique version of that. It's amazing how many unidentifiable objects are out there that are actually just old versions of things we still use today.

Here I was thinking these were just colorful washers (which they likely are, but they aren't used for construction). The little card in the image tells us these are pieces for some kind of game, and that game just so happens to be mahjong! Maybe I should learn the rules sometime.

I've seen these in old houses before but never actually wondered what they were. As it just so happens, they're caps to seal off old gas pipes.

Back in the day before electricity was widespread, people used to light their homes with gas lamps. And these caps are just leftovers from that time.

At first, I thought it was some kind of dental tool. And I was kind of close. It's a laryngoscope, which is used to perform a laryngoscopy, which is essentially a non-invasive procedure in which a doctor looks at your throat and larynx. It seems like it would be uncomfortable.

Here's another one that diabetics would know (but the rest of us probably wouldn't). They're blood lancets, used to check blood glucose levels (and also for other things, but this is their most common use).

The fact that these were left in a rental car is actually really concerning; that's biohazardous waste.

This thing could literally be anything. Like, it looks like some sort of random bracket used to brace some kind of structure, but it could be pretty much any structure.

It actually does have a specific use, though. It's a railway joint. So, it's used on railroad tracks. Mystery solved!

This weird thing just so happens to be a crayon. More specifically, it's a soapstone crayon, used by welders and engineers to mark things.

It's similar to chalk, but doesn't burn off when in contact with super high temperatures (hence why it would be so useful for welders to have).

This little mystery device is a fiber optic splice case. Like the name would imply, it's a case meant to enclose spliced fiber optic cables.

They can be found in buildings, or outside along power lines. And they look all heavy duty like this in order to protect them from water and other environmental things.

For once, I actually know what these are. They're replacement nibs for a drawing tablet pen. After a while, the tip of the pen wears down, and you'll have to replace it in order for it to work properly.

Any tablet you buy usually comes with a few replacements to get you started.

If you follow the Eastern Orthodox faith, then you may already know what this thing is. It's a panel for one of the twelve great feasts of the Church, though I wouldn't be able to tell you which feast it represents. It was probably part of a set at some point.

These little bits are, in fact, drill bits. Each one is used for either countersinking (which allows fixtures to look flat along a surface) or to make pilot holes (which are the holes you make in a surface before you drill a screw in place).

Despite the fact that it was found in what was once a salmon canning facility, it really has nothing to do with canning, or salmon, for that matter. It's a Neuman chimney brush.

Like the name implies, it's used to clean your chimney (if you have a wood burning fireplace, that is).

This little cast iron anchor-looking thing doesn't really look like much. I actually have no idea how you'd use it. Though, it does look kind of cool.

It's apparently some kind of old clothesline holder. How it would work is beyond me, though.

Spoiler alert: it's not any kind of bomb (thank goodness!).

It is, in fact, a sprinkler head. From the looks of it, it's probably been in the ground for quite some time. It's good to know that it isn't anything dangerous, but it's still always good to be safe rather than sorry.

It's an Aztec calendar that's been given its own niche among the bricks of the wall.

There doesn't seem to be a reason to not remove it, aside from the grandfather liking it and the fact that it would leave a weird circular space in the brick.

I can see how one might jump to conclusions about this one, but thankfully, there's nothing sexy about this object.

It goes over boots to provide more grip on ice and snow, and should have a match for the other foot.

It's a "termite indicator," which apparently the previous homeowner was really concerned about. If termites eat through the tasty wooden bait, the balls fall and the green one will no longer be visible.

The "miracle eye" is a basic light sensor that will prevent the clock from chiming the hour when the lights are off. Which is pretty useful if you ever want to be able to sleep in the same room as a beautiful vintage clock.

A ring of black smoke is a tell-tale sign of a transformer explosion. Alternatively, there are some pyrotechnic shows that create these rings on purpose for their audience.

I'll leave this explanation to the commenter PingPongProfessor: "Having had goats before, for a number of years, I'm confident that this goat is a dumbass, and after about the 900th time that the farmer had to free this guy from a fence that he had stuck his head through, horns and all (and couldn't get back out), the farmer settled on this method of ensuring that the goat couldn't stick his head through far enough to get his horns snagged."

"Tried searching for a similar one but have always come up with nothing. Anybody have an idea why this has this unique shape? Wallet for scale."

Hopefully, they never tried to use this as a kettle, because it's actually a portable urinal for bedridden medial patients.

From the looks of it, it could either be part of an old marital bedhead, or it's a piece of a threshold. Either way, it's probably, like, centuries old.

The wheat/grain symbol on it is apparently supposed to represent the saying, "you reap what you sow." To be honest, it kind of has a bit of an ominous feeling to it.

It's not uncommon for the r/whatisthisthing subreddit to be asked about pieces of vehicles, and they almost always correctly name the make and model of the car. Sometimes, it's even the key to solving the case.

This specific one is from a 2007-2009 Camry LE.

It's a very large hearing aid. The accused is hard of hearing and since it is his right to actually hear what's being said in his trial, he was provided with this to wear.

Not sure how old this clip is, but considering the tiny budgets at most court houses, I wouldn't be surprised if it was recent and they simply won't replace something that isn't broken.

As the text on some of these pieces would indicate, these are Hindu offerings for some kind of ritual. It's likely that whoever put these under the pier was conducting the ritual in that spot. That's pretty interesting.