Have you ever found a strange widget or device and had no clue what it was?
Next time you do, head over to Reddit and post it on r/whatisthisthing . That community’s track record for figuring out what weird things are is unparalleled. Let’s check out some of the weirder stuff that’s been ID’d over the last few months.
“Object found in kitchen of deceased relative. About 18” long. Puck shaped end is heavy solid metal.”
This is a highly specific kitchen tool, and is designed for dishes that need to be browned or melted, like crème brûlée or French onion soup. Just heat up the end and use it over the dish.
“A putty type substance found inside a dehumidifier. It doesn’t seem to have any purpose that I can think of since it’s inside a plastic bag which is inside a plastic box with no visible pipes or vents attached to it.”
If it looks like foam and feels like foam, well, then it’s probably foam. This was likely used in an attempt to deaden the sound, as air dehumidifiers tend to get pretty loud.
“These two chrome plated loops with fully functional bolts on the end, found in SE Iowa. I’m unsure of the base metal, but I assume it’s copper since it sounded like it on my metal detector.”
Here’s an easy one. While one could think of all sorts of uses for these weird loops, they’re simply hinges for an old-school toilet seat.
“Victorian mystery object. Blunt and too big for a needle threader.”
This is a bodkin, simple as that. What’s a bodkin, you ask? It’s a kind of blunt needle that’s designed for threading thicker stuff like ribbons and lace through something that’s being sewed.
“What is this loop towards the end of both the sleeves on my jacket? Who would hang their jacket up by the sleeves? What are these for?”
These loops aren’t for hanging at all. They’re designed to make layering easier by attaching to an outer shell. By attaching at the cuffs, it means the sleeves of the fleece and the sleeves of the shell will stay together.
“6” to 8″ black cast iron frying pan with a raised solid 2″ flat surface in the center of the pan.”
These pans look like they’d be excellent for making big, puffy donuts. Turns out that’s exactly what they’re for. They’re known as ‘donut skillets’ in case you’re looking for one.
“These red and green lights on the outside of this medical clinic.”
This is a simple at-a-glance signal system. When the light is green, courier services know that there are packages to pick up. If it’s red, they know that there aren’t any.
“Humming metal locked box next to a corn field.”
Transformer boxes like this indicate that an area has underground electrical power rather than overhead power lines. They’re usually seen in residential areas, though, so finding one next to a cornfield is kind of weird.
“Little razors attached to some sort of handle…found on top of fridge. My husband has no idea either.”
If you like to do fancy things with fruits and veggies, you likely already know the answer to this one. It’s an attachment for a mandolin slicer, which is designed to cut stuff.
“What are these lights that appear to be behind the mirror in the hotel I’m staying at?”
This mirror is supposed to be an infinity mirror, where LEDs are placed between a one-way mirror and a standard mirror to make things look like they’re in a tunnel. The only problem? There aren’t enough LEDs to produce the desired effect.
“What is this item? All night we are solving this. It slides open and there is tiny piece of foam inside.”
Philips makes lots of gadgets, but this one is decidedly low-tech. The foam inside is meant to be moistened so it can serve as a finger wetter for turning pages.
“What is this strange tactile lump of resin with a wooden centre and snipped cables underneath it? We’ve had it many years and never known.”
This one’s a bit of an unknown even now, but it appears to be a rudder trim sensor for a racing sailboat.
“What is this ice phenomenon I found on the forest floor today?”
This is a rather pretty sight, and an excellent example of frost flowers. These occur when warm moisture escapes from plant temperatures in cold temperatures, causing it to freeze in place.
“What are these tiny brown and tan beads I found in my carpet and on my windowsill?”
This looks like everyday life with a beader, but the reality is a little more concerning: these aren’t beads at all. They’re little chunks of termite poop. This person has drywood termites.
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“Strange graves in a village graveyard in northwest Iran.”
Well, we already know that this is a grave of some kind, but where’s it from? Turns out it’s a Zoroastrian grave. Zoroastrianism is an Iranian religion that dates back more than two thousand years.
“It’s a toilet paper roll wrapped in a yellow cleaning cloth, that is attached by gummy strings and clear tape. The cloth is stuffed into the roll on one end.”
This one is clearly homemade, and something that discreet smokers are familiar with. It’s designed to reduce the smell of smoke: exhale into it, and (hopefully), the smoke smell coming out will be neutralized.
“What is this red leather devil figure, found in a wooden box in an attic?”
This isn’t actually a taxidermied devil. It’s a ray or skate, a type of fish, and has been shaped into a creepy-looking devil character. It’s not for everyone, that’s for sure.
“Found in a kitchen cupboard. Hard plastic tool with dimpled metal section on the end, rough but not very sharp, looks like it might be removable.”
If you thought this looked like some kind of beauty product, you’re on the right track. It’s a foot callous scrubber and works pretty much like a cheese grater.
“Found this hard plastic item in a kitchen drawer. Pictured next to a keychain for scale.”
Here’s a device that doesn’t really look like anything at all, but it has a specific purpose: it’s a wine stopper, and can be used in place of a cork to keep wine fresh.
“Bought a new shirt. This small packet was attached with the tags. What are these for?”
It almost looks like the sticky part of a command hook, but these things are intended to stiffen the collar of a collared shirt. Appropriately enough, they’re known as collar stiffeners and get inserted into the collar.
