There are some things out there that simply defy explanation . There are a lot more things, though, that only look like they can’t be explained. But as it turns out, there’s always someone out there with the answers .
These finds sure were strange, but they at least weren’t impossible to identify. I swear, everyone’s a know it all on the internet.
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“Found in a Dutch attic, the metal stick things are different lengths and weights.”
Because people know things, multiple Reddit comments got this one right. This keychain-looking thing is made from a bunch of very old horseshoe nails. Who would’ve thought it was that easy to figure out?
“Spherical containers with valve and pipes inside. There must be at least 50 of these close to a stone-pit. What is it for?”
This thing is called a Biogas capture well , at least, according to Reddit user gefloible. I think it’s supposed to capture carbon and put it in the ground? Seems like it would really come in handy in this day and age.
“A resin cube that contains a liquid that says ‘Mesa Petroleum Transaction,’ & ‘100,000,000 October 1979.'”
Yeah, this thing is definitely weird. How this person ended up finding it is beyond me.
But according to Redditor littlegreenmints, it’s a “Commemorative oil drop from a business deal or milestone.” So I guess it’s from their 100 millionth transaction?
“Chunk of pottery found in a riverbed in Santa Clarita, California & a tracing of the floral pattern on it with my guess at a symmetrical second half.”
Yeah, it isn’t very clear, but the Reddit comments seem to think it’s part of a clay pot that probably washed up there years ago. Not the most detailed description, but that’s probably as good as it’s going to get.
“Small plastic and metal ‘thing’ found on the floor on a building site , metal is detachable from plastic but was cheaply glued on, at the end of plastic is a tiny flattened off area, was in a small clear plastic baggy when found.”
Wait, I actually know what this is. It’s an applicator for face or lip masks. I have one that came with my night creme (don’t judge), but have never used it.
It’s nice when you have the answers for once.
“This appeared out of nowhere in my lab. Have no clue what it could be used for. The left arm has a section that narrows and widens again. The lab is a university lab so could be for any branch of chemistry.”
Lonely_Guidance1284 on Reddit did a little digging and found out that this thing is called a “Van Slyke Manometric (Gas Analysis) Apparatus.” I have no idea what that means, but at least one mystery is solved.
“My wife noticed a loud scraping sound on her ’17 Chevy Cruze Hatchback and sent me this photo.”
It didn’t take a lot of time for people to crack this one. It’s an exhaust heat shield, according to the Reddit comments. Looks like it can probably be removed and replaced pretty easily, so that’s not the end of the world.
“What are those weird grey worm looking things?”
Seeing as there’s a mop and several wet floor signs, it looks like there was some kind of spill. And thanks to the kind people of Reddit, we know that the “worm” looking thing is a spill sock, which helps absorb spills.
“A little bigger than a quarter, made of metal, functioning cap, “4293” and “__terli__” inscribed around opening. “Athens” with some building/structure rubble around on one side, soldier looking at an ouroboros on the other.”
Looks super mysterious. But thanks to Redditor sofa_king_ugly, we know that it’s a little perfume flask. So not really that mysterious.
“What is this heavy yellow tray? Maybe rubber coated metal, about the size of my hand. Underside reads NM DCB1000 GF 030.”
There were a lot of really strange theories about this one (it’s not a bedpan, that’s all I’ll say). But at the end of the day, it’s just a shaving bowl. Strange what people will come up with, though.
“Flat plastic piece with multiple sizes of hexagonal holes in it. Has a flexible layer sandwiched between two layers of rigid plastic.”
I wouldn’t have been able to even guess what this is. Thanks to Reddit user honeyrust, I don’t have to. Because it’s apparently a drying rack for makeup brushes. Nice and easy.
“My friend on FB found this on her walk, said is in pristine condition with 3″ strip of insulation around the inside (corner to corner). It’s in pristine condition. Hard to see depth but it’s probably almost a foot. What is this thing?”
This one was pretty easy for people to figure out. It’s a case for transporting musical instruments. Like, for tour buses or plane rides. Nothing super strange after all.
“Two metal objects found buried next to each other. The long ‘blade’ is about 21″ long and 1.5″ wide. The cylindrical end has a hole that goes through it.”
Reddit user ttocs2 just so happened to have the answer here: “Part of a gate hinge. Hook and band type. The shorter one is also called a j bolt these days.” Cool!
“Found in barn in Delaware, attached to wall with single nail, very light wood, approx 7″ length, approx 4″ width.”
This little box could be anything. But according to dfotw on Reddit, it’s a match holder. And it turns out that this is the right answer!
“I was looking at an apartment and they have a weird pipe looking thing on the wall what it that?”
According to Redditor jackrats, it’s a gas meter (which it does look like). That’s… not something that should be inside of someone’s home, so hopefully the OP decided not to try and live in this place.
“8 inch steel tool with tapered end and rectangular end of handle.”
Reddit user Inabind4U had this to say: “Dad’s a mechanic, eh? Ask him what a ‘lead sled’ is. Put a wooden handle on the spike end. Didn’t have polymers so….this was a tool for flattening out your lead patch.” Interesting…
“Little black plastic cube 14mm x 14mm.”
What oh what could this little thing be? It almost looks like some kind of special die for a board game.
Well, it isn’t. According to Silver_Ghost on Reddit: “That’s the CNDY GRND logo, they make snowboard apparel. It’s the piece for the cinch for their snowboard gloves from 2014.”
“Has a strong magnet in both pieces, seems like something is missing from the silver part which has a thread on the end.”
Yeah, I’ll just let Reddit user TK421isAFK explain this one: “You have 2 different things here.The orange piece is a stationary security tag remover, designed to be mounted on a counter.
“The silver one is also a keychain security tag remover, but it’s missing the cap, which forms a magnet ‘keeper’. A keeper prevents the magnet from attracting magnetic objects, like keys in your pocket.”
“What are these things for? They are in the wall and look very massive. It also looks like you could connect a hose or something there. But since they are blocked, I don’t think you have to go there again.”
“Looks like a cable/pipe entry point that is not currently in use,” said Reddit user jackrats. That’s probably as good of an explanation as we’re gonna get.
“Just noticed this in this oven… don’t know if it’s still even safe to use? Wire like object at top of oven.”
According to a whole bunch of comments on this post, it’s a temperature sensor for the oven. As the name would imply, it reads the temperature inside the oven and makes sure it’s at the right setting. Nothing to be afraid of.
“Found this cast iron thing on the shore by my place. It’s slightly concave in shape and looks like it was originally two pieces that rotated separately around a centre point (now ceased).”
According to Redditor Strange-Grand, “It’s a cast iron vent. They can be found on wood stoves, barbecues or furnaces. If you look up ‘coal furnace’ you will find lots of examples. May be from a boiler on a ship, maybe something boring.”
“Found this item and very curious on its intended use. It has a measurement table for MM (up to 50) on it. The other side has a 1:100000 5km scale on it. The wand go inside something but not sure what.”
There were a bunch of comments that had the right answer to this one. It’s a kind of fire starter called a ferrocerium fire starter. That’s pretty neat.
“Cylindrical thing that unscrews that I found on the ground today.”
Reddit user tjlcfi identified the item as a M-1 Carbine oiler. I’ll be completely honest, I have no idea what that is. But it was the right answer, and that’s what’s most important here. It means another mysterious item that we don’t have to worry about it.
“These little huts or sheds outside all the rural homes here close to Raleigh, NC. The nicer ones match the house exterior style (brick or whatever) and roofing material. They are not dog houses.”
After a bit of back and forth in the comment section, it looks like these little structures are pump covers to keep them from freezing in the winter. Makes sense.
“Found this Mermaid tail. I’m unsure what it is. It looks like a salad utensil or wand but I don’t think it is. Anyone got a lead?”
As it turns out, this strange mermaid tail thing is a plastic toy wand. I don’t know of a single child that would want to play with something this ugly, but whatever works I guess.
“Found in a home built in the 1970s after moving bookshelves. It’s labeled “TV,” is this for a receiver or something?”
This was a job for someone much older than me. Reddit user orundi had the full explanation: “It’s just a clean plug for a tv antenna. Way back when I was a kid (olden times before interwebz and cable) it was just a flat strip with wires on the sides.” Huh.
“Everything screws in and out, except rotating that rotating arm which slides freely in out.”
Can’t forget the banana for scale, of course. But in any case, there are a lot of people on Reddit who also ride bikes, because they all figured out that this is a tool for bike chain repairs. Neat!
“Removable stair shelves in older home on second staircase (seen on Zillow). What’s the purpose?”
I, too, would like to know why this staircase comes with shelving. Seems like it would be kind of inconvenient.
According to Tagny-Daggart on Reddit, it was probably a second staircase turned into a pantry, “because some people find it more convenient to have a pantry than a second staircase.” Seems less inconvenient now.
“Aluminium hook, but for what purpose?”
Redditor Chop_til_you_Drop gave a good answer to this question:
“I was a firefighter, and these were common giveaways at conferences and conventions. I use them to hang items like flashlights and knives from loops on my gear for easy access. Much easier than searching through your pockets.”
There really is an explanation for everything.
“A large bowl made of copper with riveted joints. Found in 500 year old English cottage. Does anyone know any specifics such as manufacturer?”
To me, it looks like a cauldron. But to the Reddit comments, it looks like a copper water boiler. To be honest, though, I kind of like my answer a bit better. But it’s fine.
