Mike
How many times have you randomly come across something and not known what it was? I hate when that happens because it’s not something that’s easy to Google.
Well, now you’re in luck. The reddit group r/WhatIsThisThing is for that exact reason. You post something weird you found, and thousand of redditors see it and give their 2 cents. The cream always rises to the top.
Here are 30 of the best we found this month.
1. Small ceramic pot . Lid goes nearly to the bottom inside and has a single hole in its side .
Popular Response:
I think it’s for butter. You put butter in the “lid” part and warm water in bowl- just a little, and it softens the butter. Look up ceramic butter keeper, you’ll find similar ones
– oceanblu456
2. Beautiful transparent green and sphere, but not a marble. Found outside in North Texas. It has shrunk in the last 2 days. When found it was the size of a marble, now the size of a pea, but still perfectly sphere.
Popular Response:
Lol orbeez! Have kids, can verify! Fun little water filled marbles that dehydrate into tiny balls
– diegothengineer
3. Heavy metal tool with large hole in center, and various protrusions/ Possible jewelry/small metalworking tool Please Help me Figure Out What This Tool is!
Popular Response:
Pretty sure it’s an auto body dolly. Used for removing dents from vehicles.
– voitlander
4. Surgically removed from my cat’s stomach. We are at a loss as to what it is.. help? It’s rubbery in texture and maybe about an inch long.
Highlighted Response:
OP, I know you said you didn’t think this was from your cat fountain but I pulled mine apart to check and it looks like an exact match piece in place , piece removed
– ashleygator
5. Enclosed, copper gazebo type thing on a residential property. House built in 1929
Popular Response:
It’s a cupola.
– jackrats
6. These white circles on my ceiling. In every room of my new apartment. They feel like tin or similar lightweight material when I tap on them. Tried to get my nails underneath pull one off the ceiling but they’re firmly attached and I didn’t want to cause damage.
Popular Response:
Covers for fire sprinklers
– TomBug68
7. Ceramic plate with 6 circular divots. Often found in thrift stores near kitchen items
Popular Response:
Escargot Plate
https://www.ebay.com/itm/CERAMIC-ESCARGOT-MUSHROOM-PLATES-SET-of-4-Bakeware-Dishes-White-glazed/383725521602
– PTR47
8. My girlfriend’s house has this panel next to the basement door that lights up whenever the basement light is on. Why?
Popular Response:
It’s to tell you that the basement light is on.
– Guygan
9. I saw these on several rooftops in Greece. I thought it was solar panels, but what is the drum shaped thing on the top of it?
Popular Response:
Solar water heater
– goodwithsalt
10. Burying our dog in the backyard who passed today at 16 and came across this underground wall
Popular Responses:
My guess is an old septic tank
– SameSoupReheated
Nah. It’s got holes in it that’s a drywell. That thing fills up when it rains so the yard doesn’t flood.
– oddmanout
11. These pipes filled with cement were every 500m along our hiking path (in the mountains). What is that? It’s around 30cm in diameter (~1 foot).
Popular Response:
Do you know if there was ever any mining in that area? They remind me of mining ventilation shafts that I’ve seen sometimes. Maybe they are done with that part of the mine and filled them with concrete to prevent people from going in them.
– QueenPooper13
12. What is this for?? It’s on the wall in my new apartment.
Popular Response:
It’s to feed cable for wall mounted tv and such so you don’t have hanging wires
– Parking-Problem6519
13. What is this? Looks and feels like a microchip in the middle. Found this underneath the sofa
Popular Response:
Looks like a diabetes test strip
– PCOverall
14. In a classic buy-now-consult-the-internet-later situation, I now own these neon rainbow acrylic mystery sticks I found at the goodwill bins. Anyone know what I bought?
Popular Response: mahjong racks
– CapPsychological264
15. Wooden machine hanging on the wall of a historical building. It features dials that all seem to be in sync. Knob below when pushed makes the dials jump, but turning does nothing. The dials are numbered but a few are labeled parlor, ladies entrance and bath room.
Popular Response:
Servants summoning panel. Buttons or pulls all over the house ring a bell there..because damnit Jeeves am I supposed to figure out these pants myself? …. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/did-you-ring-sir-country-house-communication-through-the-ages
– porkpiehat_and_gravy
16. Clear plastic thing that hinges kind of like scissors
Popular Response:
A clip for the cord on blinds. https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisthisthing/comments/qcpw4k/clear_plastic_spring_mounted_clip_for_something/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share
– Chirs_Massey
17. Peg thing in door at hotel. It’s on a brand new hotel door, and it retracts into the door when you close it.
Popular Response:
I believe by pushing that in a shield is extended from the bottom of the door to create a seal and assist in fire-proofing the door. My university had something similar.
– Lyko5
18. What is this 20cm long metal thing ?
Popular Responses:
very specialized hex key. 6 mm the din911 is the code for hex key standards. the 50CR is the type of metal its made of.
as for what it is specifically made like this- shrug.
– lothcent
my error – the nbr 6 is hex key #6 which equals screw size M8
– lothcent
19. Stainless steel device approximately 3.5 feet tall, ~50lbs. Various valves and connections, one which appears to be a gas input for a burner in the bottom half. Top half includes a Pyrex brand glass insert with a ~3 inch metal lined hole in the bottom. Appears to be missing 2 pipes on the side.
Popular Response:
It is a boiler ( or a still ) the missing glass pipes are for water levels – national codes require two of them
– mike_elapid
20. Old Faceplate with Multiple Numbered Buttons
Popular Response:
I think it’s a finger board from an antique Autoharp or Mandolin harp. Here’s similar ones that look the same.
http://www.pickaway.press/fz/gizmo.html
– Salty1710
21. four wood or plastic casings with an asymmetrical hole, hanging over the facade of a seven story residential building
Popular Response:
These are nesting boxes for swifts.
edit: I looked it up and this type of nesting box is specifically for swifts. Here is an example of a similar box https://www.nestbox.co.uk/products/swift-nest-box
Swifts are picky about the conditions of their nest. The opening apparently deters sparrows and starlings from using the box.
– chefsslaad
22. Does anyone know what this instrument is called and in what music it is used? It only has this one fingerhole and thus produces only two notes.
Popular Response:
It’s a cuckoo whistle. https://www.amazon.com/lovermusic-10-5x4cm-Whistle-Chirping-Training/dp/B07CMQ9FKR
– StrategyDesperate984
23. Neighbor was Getting Rid of Two Huge Wooden Somewhat Red Wheel Shaped Items About 4 feet wide and Heavy
Popular Response:
They look like patterns for castings
– its_just_flesh
24. What is this metallic structure on top of South Table Mountain in Golden, CO, USA? I would guess the panel is 12m wide and 9m tall, with angle adjustment points on the back. It has no electronics connected to it.
Popular Response:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive_repeater
– Mael_Coluim_III
25. What is this rectangular object that was wrapped in cloth and buried in a New England farmyard?
Popular Comment:
Solved! After helpful comments from /u/Jipstertandy and /u/happyrock, I was able to call my septic installer friend to confirm that this is part of the hardware for an undisclosed and probably defunct septic leachfield on the property.
Thank you all.
– Andthemomeraths
26. What is this roll of moldable/breakable/self-joining rubber-like substance?
Popular Response:
Butyl tape. It’s a rubberized adhesive tape for building trades (roofing, siding, glazing, etc.)
– martyshimbackler
27. What is this thing? Stone structure on bearing manufacturer campus which no discernible use.
Popular Response:
Looks like a mini amphitheater feature of some sorts.
Edit: where is this?
– KingStevoI
28. found on outside table at a restaurant. stiff metal does not bend easily, top ring is not connected on one side
Popular Response:
This cam with my cheap electric pressure washer. Its for cleaning the nozzle.
– Goodatcats
29.
Popular Response:
It’s a trap for beetles to protect the trees from the beetles by laying their eggs in them and causing damage to the whole forest.
– Seite88
30. small aux plug with white round top and what appears to be an IR blinker on the top, seems to have no purpose
Popular Response:
IR transmitter to use the phone as a remote control
https://www.ebay.com/itm/313775124978
– jackrats