“What Is This Thing?” — 25 Times People Asked The Internet To Identify Mysterious Objects This Week

1. “What is this wall mounted bucket in a shower in a $25M Brooklyn mansion?”

“Title describes. It looks like it would rotate only to then hit the wall.”

Solved By:
u/ToughAdvantage7: It’s a sauna bucket shower. Like this https://www.effe.it/en-us/blog/the-bucket-shower/

2. “Large, heavy cast iron and wooden thing that washed up on the shore of a river.”

“This washed up on the shoreline of the Coosa River (AL). One side is wood and has two round short dowels. Other parts appear to be cast iron. The patent dates are visible. For added context: this specific area of the Coosa was flooded to create a lake, burying many things in the 1960s.”

Solved By:
u/NurseMan79: It’s part of a broken soundboard of a baby grand piano. It’s probably very old, as the mold dates are from the 1800s. If you get a better picture of the numbers on it, you could probably get a manufacturer’s name and model.

u/UnattributableSpoon: I have a parlor baby grand (the smallest type of baby grand) and its soundboard looks very much like this.

u/RTROTA: Solved! Fairly confident, due to the answers here, that this is a piece of a baby grand or grand piano. Specifically, this appears to be a portion of the “cast iron plate” on one. Thank you!

3. “Glass barrier hanging from roof of local mall”

Solved By:
u/ThruxtonKing: It’s a smoke curtain/smoke baffle, not sure if it’s correct terminology in english… Anyway, it’s used to partition big spaces to prevent smoke movement as smoke is usually hot and rises up to the ceiling first. It also helps trigger smoke detectors sooner and more exactly (fire sectors), so firefighters can locate the fire sooner.

Edit: It also aids smoke extraction in buildings that are equipped with that.

u/cocoafart: You know the comment will be bang on perfect when there’s a “sorry for my english” in there. Yes, smoke baffle is the correct terminology.

u/thehazzanator: Never heard baffle being used in this context, learn something new everyday!

4. “Metal thing found in the dishwasher”

“Found this metal thing in the dishwasher, it is 3.7cm long has a keyring on one end and a thread on the other”

Solved By:
u/nitro479: Center support for a steamer basket. Edit to add link: https://www.amazon.com/Sayfine-Vegetable-Steamer-Premium-Stainless/dp/B091XP3VZ7

u/ShaggysGTI: Beat me to it! My wife found ours just last week.

u/One-Entertainment866: Solved! Thank you everyone, it is the handle of a collapsible steamer! Didn’t notice that it was missing, but put it back together now.

5. “What is this thing? 9” metal object with a long (offset?) handle. Found in the street.”

Solved By:
u/MrMonkrat: It’s a locator pin for a press that’s been modified for something. The pin part is used to align a metal stamping press so it doesn’t “crash.” I would assume the handle was added for easy removal for whatever they were trying to pin…

u/butitsirrelephant: We’ve been wondering what the original metal piece could be. What kind of press?

u/MrMonkrat: It’s technically called a headed press-fit pilot. But whatever they’re using it for isn’t what it was made for.

u/butitsirrelephant: Wow! Thank you! At least partially solved!

6. “Metal, not collapsible or movable, about 8 inches wide, has a chain that can be hooked, and it will only lay flat on one side due to the little spikes in the center; can’t stand on its own. The round area would only fit something goofball sized.”

“SOLVED! I found this in the cabinet where I keep cooking and baking pans, and other kitchen items, so it must have come with something I bought at some point.”

Solved By:
u/FredTheBarber: Is it to go around the top of a wine bottle and the prongs are for holding glasses?

u/Vitamin_MI: That’s a great theory! I tried, but I think it’s unlikely. I used a standard-size wine bottle and the piece was very wobbly on it. The spikes on the side don’t touch the bottle to stabilize it, and it was hard to put wine glass stems through the prongs; they are too tight. It moves around way too much to be safe to hold glass. Darn it, good guess though!

u/LiveLaughLop: I posted Down below but wanted to be sure you saw it — it looks like it’s from a wine caddy!

u/Born_Pass_9234: I mean, This is 100% what it is, so it’s solved.

u/Vitamin_MI: OMG, u/LiveLaughLop, I love you!! It was driving me insane. There were good suggestions here, but nothing seemed to perfectly fit to make it useful. The wine bottle and glass theory was good, but the piece alone just wasn’t stable enough to be practical; it kept rocking around on the bottle. I definitely had that basket at some point! THANK YOU!!

7. “Black plastic. Comes 10 in a clear plastic zipper bag. Approximately 3 inches in length and about 3/8” wide. Google search was of no help.”

“Helping my sister tidy her house for a renovation and we came across a bag of 10 of these. Before we get rid of them we would like to make sure they aren’t important. Found in closet in the laundry room.”

Solved By:
u/The_Real_D-bag: Costco sold clothes drying racks. It looks like one of the plastic hooks that fit around one of the rack parts (large round gap), and then you could hang stuff off the smaller hooks on each side.

u/OxymoronsAreMyFave: Solved!! Thanks so much!!!

8. “Purchased on a whim thinking they were white suspenders (they looked cross-attached when bundled), but they’re far too short. Now thinking shirt stays but can’t make sense of them.”

“So I was thrifting and saw these for basically free. They’re about 30cm long and about as flexible as suspenders, but clearly too short to be. They were displayed next to men’s formal clothing however.

I’m thinking they’re maybe shirt stays of some sort, but they’re obviously missing a garter, and they seem too short to be the ones that clip onto your socks, so at this point I’m entirely confused. What do I have here?”

Solved By:
u/jennichappy: I bought some of these years back to keep my fitted sheet on my bed. You use each of the crimp ends on each corner of the fitted sheet to ensure the sheet stays on the mattress.

u/Rough-Hair-4360: Oh. So I was not even in the right ballpark, but coincidentally they are very useful anyway as I’ve had that problem several times in the past. Thank you. Solved!

9. “Basins/Pools of white rocks around Kyoto”

“Title describes the thing. I sometimes found these pools/basins of white rocks on the sidewalks when walking around the streets of Kyoto, Japan.

They don’t do anything as far as I can tell. I thought they might have been some sort of planters, but most of them don’t have anything growing in them. What are these things?”

Solved By:
u/Lightsider: This is a “kimon yoke,” a protective ward against demons, evil, and misfortune. Japanese superstition holds that the northeast direction is unlucky. These stones are placed on the northeast corner of buildings to eliminate the “kimon,” or demon gate. https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/original/perspectives/20240715-198814/

u/UnknownContemporary:
Thanks! Solved!

10. “Triangle shaped jig found in back of a closet”

“A sharp nail comes out of one tip and short blades come from two sides. We found three of them when clearing out a closet, not sure what they could be for. No branding or other markings on any pieces.”

Solved By:
u/Got2Go: I have two of these, self-mounting shelves. Press the pin into the corner and slide the little bar, and two blades will go into the walls and the shelf will be mounted. They hold surprisingly well. Also a good way to find out you only have two corners in your home that are 90°.

u/7grendel: As someone who started in new home construction and is now an SME in historic building restoration, finding an actual 90-degree corner is a bloody miracle! You are truly blessed to have two of them in your home!

u/allyourrickroll: Solved, thanks!

11. “White dome shaped object on the wall of a RV bathroom. Not to stop the door- it opens the other way.”

“White dome shaped object on the wall of a RV bathroom. Not to stop the door- it opens the other way.”

Solved By:
u/travfields619: It’s a door stop. Previous owners put it there to prevent “something” and simply removed “something,” but not the door stop. Or, a child just slapped it on the wall and they didn’t want to damage the paneling by removing it.

u/imoutinthecountry: Solved. Thank you everyone.

12. “WITT: Heavy metal rectangular object that has a swiveling bar when jet used”

Solved By:
u/thundrbud: Here ya go. Vintage Coin Holder Under Dashboard, Decarlin Locking Change Box Dash Accessory | eBay https://www.ebay.com/itm/267422560357

u/DKC_Reno: Ooo boy, you are good! Solved! I would never have assumed it was for someone’s car. It looks brand new taking into account how old it would need to be for someone to install it inside their car just for change.

u/thundrbud: My dad was a trucker, and we lived in Illinois where you needed a supply of coins in your car for traveling the tollway system. I’ve seen similar, so I had a feeling this was dash-mounted. And it’s also why there’s no penny slot — it’s not for making change, and no pennies were needed for tolls.

u/DKC_Reno: Very cool! Also weird that they are selling for so much on eBay, lol — maybe nostalgia? Either way, I would never have guessed that this was its purpose. Thank you for solving it!

13. “Plastic little bullet-shaped piece with metal inside it”

“My mom found this under a very old stand mixer after my sister and I had a party. Any ideas?”

Solved By:
u/Ivaldi: Looks a bit like part of the pendulum of a Kit Kat Clock: https://kit-cat.com/products/lever-pendulum

u/postmalonely: Yoooooo, that is the exact spot where my Kit Kat clock broke awhile ago! I think this is the truth!

u/SectorMiserable4759: No way. How in the heck did you get to Kit Kat clock pendulum piece?

u/Ivaldi: Wow, that’s lucky. Happy to help! I ordered a new pendulum last week because mine broke, so this was top of mind.

u/adudeguyman: Excellent timing. If you had not known, I very much doubt anyone else could have found it.

u/nosecohn: This is one of the best solves in the history of WITT. I’m blown away.

u/postmalonely: Solved!

14. “This plastic red ball with a collar is coming through the ceiling in the corner of my bedroom. It’s about a half inch in diameter. Any thoughts?”

“Small, plastic, red ball in ceiling. There is also a plug coming through the ceiling elsewhere near an outlet. May or may not be related. Hopefully someone recognizes it.”

Solved By:
u/nfamous_War7182: Likely a visual doorbell for the deaf. ETA – As others have said, it’s also likely it could be a visual telephone ringer.

u/phuch-the-pharoah-2x: My thought also, or a visual fire alarm.

u/CaptainPrower: The proximity to the smoke alarm would certainly suggest that.

u/andrewkeefer28: Never seen a little one like this, but they used to put red lights to warn you when you left your attic light on.

15. “Large shot glass shape, plastic, two vials embedded in base with brown liquid, walls are two layers with transparent liquid trapped in between them.”

“Found this in my office, can’t figure out what it is. Any ideas?”

Solved By:
u/Sarcasmataz: I think the tubes are like glow sticks that light up the glass for partying to the max… like this: https://www.glowsticks.co.uk/glow-shot-glasses.html The website describes how they work: “The glowing shot glass is activated by a sharp tap to the bottom of the cup and will glow all night long.” Give it a try, what’s the worst that can happen? EDIT: The liquid in the vial must mix with the liquid in the shot “glass” walls, causing it to glow.

u/SkwrlTail: Yeah, definitely a glow stick shot glass. Might be a bit old; they can expire after a while.

u/Padd007: Solved, this is exactly what it is.

16. “Clear plastic with soft silicone tip and opaque white fluid found in a park”

Solved By:
u/Sicily1922: That is the top of a nasal aspirator (aka electric booger sucker) for babies and toddlers.

u/CraigwithaC1995: If you ask my 3-year-old, she will tell you it’s Satan himself trying to suck her soul out of her body through her nasal cavity. But yes, this is an electric booger sucker. Great tool if your little one doesn’t do a million barrel rolls trying to get away.

u/RealisticHumanoid: I consider myself so lucky that my kid leans into it. He gets such a kick out of the noises.

u/DiscoKittie: I am so happy that my mother was never introduced to any kind of booger sucker, lol.

u/CoffeeStax: Solved!

17. “Plastic two-piece ball with air holes. Found in kitchen “tools” area and I remember thinking “this is useful” at time of purchase. Fits in a hand. I do not own a hamster.”

Solved By:
u/sarah_schmara: Is it a fruit fly trap? Put a bit of cider vinegar and dish soap in the bottom to lure them in? Bit grim to see all of the corpses through the clear plastic though.

u/mulberrybushes: YES YES YES and solved!!!!

18. “I saw several of these on the side of mostly corn fields in western Kansas. I thought it might be sprinkler related but the rolling sprinklers had a different arrangement.”

Solved By:
u/TruckerE: It tells the big long sprinklers on wheels that are propelled by water to stop and go the other way. That bar presses on a lever that changes direction back the way it came from.

u/003402inco: Solved! I found several good examples when I searched for irrigation stop pivot or barricade. Thanks for the quick reply.

19. “It is a metal capped dark red glass cilinder with an inscription, weights about 300 grams.”

Solved By:
u/vtmike: Looks like it’s for old photography. https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/antique-red-glass-ica-akt-ges-430104199

u/Callidonaut: Ah, it’s a red safelight for working with black and white film or photographic paper in a darkroom! When you take the exposed film or paper out of the camera and process it through a series of chemical baths (“developer,” “stop/rinse,” and “fixer”), you use one of these to be able to see what you’re doing without ruining the picture; black and white film doesn’t react to red light.

u/milkandsugar: Specifically, a red lamp for a darkroom.

u/veryusedrname: Solved!

20. “What is this 7mm or 8mm hexagonal hole on my coffee machine spoon?”

“I have a coffee machine at home that came with this spoon so i can measure and press the coffee into the filter. But something i didn’t understand it’s why there is this hexagonal shape that measure 7 or 8mm(i don’t have how to measure really properly), and it’s reinforced with extra plastic, like is made to tie some kind of nut or screw. But there is any nut or hex screw on the machine that came with the spoon.

So, what is the use of this hole?”

Solved By:
u/Eduardu44: Solved! Apparently this spoon is also sold with other models and brands of espresso coffee machines, mainly from Britânia and Philco (that share the same portafilter and similar steam nozzle), and in these other models the steam nozzle can be unscrewed with the spoon.

In my model it’s just so they didn’t need to redesign the portafilter to make a different model.

Besides these things, it’s also obviously meant to hang the spoon, and on some machines it can also be used to hang the spoon on the side (not my case either).

21. “Why’s this thing I found in my drawer I have 2 of them. Plastic not very heavy looks like it locks into something.”

Solved By:
u/friskevision: I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW! I know exactly what this is. It’s a handle for a holder for cans. I was literally removing ours today. The handle pops off. Like This

u/killaturtles: Solved! That’s it exactly. Thanks.

u/Adept-Chocolate3187: Wow man, how does it feel? We’re all here waiting for the day we see something we recognize. Today was your day! And such an odd one to figure out too, lol.

22. “Hand-held plastic tool of some kind with a metal section full of holes. No identifying marks or brands”

Solved By:
u/The_C0u5: Garlic press.

u/hematite2: Solved! Seems obvious now, but I’d never seen one like this, only the folding-style ones.

u/mix-a-max: I had one of these! It’s sooooo much better than the folding style; you don’t end up with that thick layer of un-minced garlic smashed up against the holes. I miss mine, but it’s in storage, alas.

23. “Green plastic thing found in kitchen, approximately 8″ x 8″ x 3″”

“Way in the back of cupboard.”

Solved By:
u/nitro479: Fridge organizer: https://www.amazon.com/Jwthee-Organizer-Extendable-Ventilation-Refrigerator/dp/B0DHH877BW

u/AnnoyingOldGuy: Solved!

24. “What is this tool that was about 4.5” long? It would slide and the fingers would open outward, not like a grabber, not like a grabber. A ball would come out with the fingers. It sat on our fireplace for years but I don’t know if it belonged there. We no longer live in the house or have the tool.”

Solved By:
u/PKDickman: Like this? https://www.etsy.com/listing/1215635110/swizzle-stick-art-deco-in-style-sterling It’s a swizzle stick.

u/ItIsAContest: Solved! This has to be it, based on the size in particular. And I found other items described as swizzle sticks that match even more closely to what we remember than the one you linked. Thanks so much!

u/ShinyJangles: What are these used for?

u/PKDickman: To knock the excess bubbles out of champagne so that ladies who drink it won’t burp.

25. “Altar decoration? Fabric strip, connected in middle, elastic loop within”

“While helping change the altar decorations for advent, I found three of these in the back of a drawer. They match the frontal and other pieces, but we have no idea what these are or where they would go. The elastic loop at the top is old, so I’m guessing they’ve been in the back of the drawer for a long time. The front and back are tacked together in the middle and only on the side, so I guess it could cover something tall and thin, but then why the elastic?”

Solved By:
u/FrDuddleswell: This is a maniple; it goes on the left forearm, hence the elastic loop.

u/IntrovertedGiraffe: Solved! Yes! Thank you!!

u/rainbowkey: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maniple_(vestment)