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

1. “Brown ampoules found in the basement supply closet when I purchased my house…”

“These were in the supply closet next to primer, paint, and hardwood floor ploy-urethane, and other chemicals. Some are missing; I’ve tried figuring them out. Yielding results of pharmaceuticals… Not sure why they’d be in this particular closet if that were the case.”

gooeyjello:
It’s a sensory training kit used in brewing to identify off-flavors in beer. The vials contain concentrated flavor compounds that are added to beer to create a tasting experience for training purposes.

WannaKnowAmused:
Absolutely correct. I was on a taste panel for about 12 years and had to requalify twice a year. We’d be served three glasses and had to identify which one(s) had an off character, aroma, or flavor — and what the off character was.

2. “Antique store find that’s been hanging above an interior door in our house for years – until it fell, split in half, and revealed wire inside”

“This thing was perched on one of the doors in our house until it got knocked off this weekend and broke in half. A day later, when I went to inspect at the damage and glue it back together, I discovered it had a 2 conductor – maybe 18 gauge? – wire that runs all the way up from the “handle” to the mouth of the dragon. Mouth has a suspiciously circular opening – but no threads or signs of something formerly being stuck in there.

Google image search was useless; what is this thing?”

Ancientabs:
Chinese dragon lamp.
Source

raedioactive99:
Woah, good sleuthing. That thing is cool as heck.

BornFree2018:
I had a black one without the lamp part that I hung around the corner of a door frame. Super cool looking.

WhiskeySlx (OP):
Yep, that’s exactly where ours goes!
Solved!

3. “Large metal object headed into Lockheed Martin in Florida.”

“I tried to get a better photo but couldn’t in time. It had a “Wide Load” convoy and pulled into Lockheed Martin, Titusville, Florida:”

RobotMaster1:
It’s almost definitely part of a launch tower. Here’s a segment already constructed — you can see the guide rail.

kelseyboring (OP):
Thank you, friend!

4. “Silver colored metal filigree cylinders with dome caps, intricate openwork patterns, 10-12 pieces, weighs 400g total”

“My title describes the thing. I have a collection of ornate silver colored metal cylindrical pieces with decorative dome shaped caps. They feature intricate filigree work, openwork patterns, scrollwork, beaded details, and perforated geometric sheet metal. I say sheet metal just because when applying pressure to the sides of the longer cylinders, there is some give.”

Vyedr:
Unglazed cloisonné beads.

serfinthethreads (OP):
I think that’s exactly what it is. These were in a box with Christmas ornaments and craft items. There were other finished, store-bought ornaments in this style and size. So I guess the glazing is really thick and would fill all the voids to make a smooth, solid bead. So cool!

5. “Found while walking through an open field. Very lightweight, gem appears possibly like glass, the grey setting around the gem doesn’t sound completely solid when tapped and has a plastic feel. Roughly 5cm in diameter, pictured next to a lighter for scale. No identifiable markings or writing anywhere”

Ieatclowns:
It’s a button with the back missing.

6. “This thing was the cause of my flat tire today. It’s (obviously) a broken part of something. I used google lens to try and figure out what it came from but didn’t see anything that looked similar. Does anyone know what it is?”

“Just curious as to what this is. It isn’t thin like a razor blade.”

chuystewy_V2:
That’s part of a Tiger-USA spring-assisted folding knife. Basically a budget tactical knife turned political souvenir.

sandraisevil (OP)
Oh wow! Thank you!!

7. “Small, slender metal thing with a red gem on top”

“My partner found this in her Grandma’s old house and no one can work out what it is or what it does.

The part with the red gem can be unscrewed, and the other side looks like it could be screwed or pushed into something else.

Any help identifying this would be appreciated!”

EvaTheE:
S. Mordan & Co propelling pencil. Example

Bespectaclism (OP):
Thank you!! Solved!

8. “SUPER tiny metal spoon found outside. What is its purpose? It’s comically small. Is the markings at the bottom of the handle some type of East Asian wording?”

princess_kittah:
I have this spoon! Mine has a different pattern stamped in the handle. It’s a brass ink spoon that came with a Chinese calligraphy kit, meant for transferring ink made from condensed stick pigment in an ink stone to an inkpot for use with brushes.

The kit was one of those small boxed desktop gift sets you can find in bookstores. Here’s the kit with the spoon pictured.

GNCTrash (OP):
Solved! That’s so cool! I’m assuming finding it outside where I did, it might’ve been used for drugs — but that’s actually fascinating.

Do you use it for calligraphy? I washed the spoon four times and gave it to my kid as a tiny ladle for their toy kitchen.

9. “What could this battery-operated device with buttons and a screen be? I can’t find anything exactly like it on Google. I found it with a bank card from 1982, which might help date it.”

BlueHost_gr:
It looks like a two-step authenticator we used to make bank transactions during the 90s and early 2000s. You’d push a button and a number would appear on the screen — same idea as phone authenticators now, but phones couldn’t do it back then. Before gadgets like this, we used sheets with numbers that we’d scratch off once used.

nico282:
Nope, OTP authenticators never had “set” or “mode” buttons. Those are typically found on alarm clocks, and this looks just like one.

CptBronzeBalls:
Definitely a promotional travel alarm clock.

srappel:
Yes, my mom worked at a clinic and pharma reps would leave branded junk like this all the time. I’m sure it was the same in many industries.

JlYU3A (OP):
Likely solved!

10. “Small domed metal screen, found in the dirt next to a residential well head. Banana-colored pencil for scale.”

[deleted]:
It’s the air screen for an electric hair dryer.

RangeWolf-Alpha:
Exactly. I have one that keeps falling off mine.

DaddyBeanDaddyBean (OP):
Solved! Thanks!

11. “These fixed pulleys in this shallow shelf. What are the purpose of either?”

“There are 2 2in pulleys on either side. Behind this wall is a staircase down into the basement.

Theoretically the primary construction ended at that wall and Im standing in the foyer in an add-on portion.”

PKDickman:
That shelf used to be a window. Those are the pulleys for the sash weights.

completelyderivative (OP):
Solved!

12. “Saw this structure on a flatbed this morning. Metal, looks electrical, with wood all around it (ostensibly for shipping).”

sithadmin:
High-voltage electrical substation pole switch.
Source

ewilliam (OP):
Solved!

13. “What is this? found buried in my yard. it’s metal and about 8 pounds.”

thenewoldone:
Beam scale counterweight.

Own_Song8196 (OP):
Ohhh, that does look like it! This might be a dumb question, but what would that be used for? Asking to possibly confirm whether that’s it or not.

Longjumping-Order795:
Cotton, most likely. Maybe some type of grain.

14. “Husband found this Glass tube thing at work. Might say Ball on one side looks to fit on top of a mason jar about 8 inches long.”

“Title describes the thing. He works in a cabinet shop and found this. No clue what it is and Google image search wasn’t super helpful.”

shrtcts:
Hummingbird feeder?

rajrdajr:
Specifically, it’s a vintage Brown’s Original Hummy-Bird Bar Hummingbird Feeder, missing the hummer cup and perch at the bottom. (Props to Google Lens image search.)

Edit: UPC 0-90335-41465-8 from the eBay image. HummingbirdsHeaven.com appears to still sell them.

Charlie_Warlie:
I feel like this is it — it might just be missing the little flowers they drink from.

Elder_sender:
Yes, we had one exactly like this when I was a child in the 60s.

Ebetherzzz17 (OP):
He sent me a lot more pictures, and I’m going to have to agree — this is what it is, just missing some pieces. Solved!

15. “Brass medallion found in workshop of purchased property”

“Fairly thick cast brass medallion with a mountain, eagle, the words ‘TRADE MARK OSAKA’ and then what looks like Chinese characters underneath.

It was found by my dad when his family purchased a farm in Florida back the 60s. He held onto it because he thought it was interesting but hasn’t known what it is. Google is having a hard time translating the characters underneath.”

rmutt-1917:
Looks like it says 藤髙製作所 (Fujitaka Manufacturing), which is the name of a company or factory, but I’m not sure what it is beyond that.

altsteve21:
Looks like Fujitaka makes leather goods now, so this could’ve been bolted to some luggage or something similar.

rmutt-1917:
Edit: I now think this is a safe medallion. Their modern logo has the same mountain-and-eagle motif, so I’m guessing this was originally a tag or emblem on a leather bag—or possibly on the front of a safe.

CrewChimp042 (OP):
Solved!

16. “Hard plastic box with two soft silicone inserts with silicone lids, a few holes throughout. The inserts can be removed and there’s a small space beneath them. BC, Canada”

Ok_Rush_4972:
It’s for making big cubes of ice.

Gold_Clipper (OP):
Oh? That kind of makes sense now, but I have some questions. What about the spaces at the bottom—what are they for? Why is the outer plastic so dense and insulated? And why are holes necessary in the silicone?

Please-Calm-Down:
It makes very clear ice. The insulation forces the water to freeze from the top down, pushing impurities and air bubbles through the holes instead of trapping them inside the cube.

17. “Two small plastic claws with four tines and a leg on one corner”

“Found in my brother’s utensil drawer. Looked like they might be for some hair or beard trimmer, but they don’t seem like they can clip onto anything. Sunglasses for scale.”

emlohr:
They’re for cleaning out the blades of a vegetable chopper.

insufficientlypotent:
This is the correct answer. I have the same ones for my veg chopper.

JamesBong007 (OP):
Solved!

18. “Wooden object found at second hand shop. Wooden, strings holding it together. Lightweight, spins. Possible drying rack?”

WyldBlu:
Looks like a wooden umbrella swift. It’s used to hold a skein of yarn while it’s being wound into a ball.

Sea_Volume_8237 (OP):
Very cool! Thank you for your comment. My mother is a knitter, and I can’t believe this didn’t come to me.

19. “What could this be? It’s about the size of a pencil and came with an old sewing kit. It seems pretty old and is a bit bent and rusty.”

Perplexed-Owl:
It’s a sleying hook for pulling threads through the reed of a loom.

Lumpy-Abroad539:
This is definitely what it is. I have one that looks just like it, but longer. This one is probably for a tabletop loom.

Cool-Aside-2659:
A relative answered this before seeing any of the comments. They’ve worked with looms in the past.

MoonTrails (OP):
I think this is it! I looked up vintage ones and they looked just like mine. 😀

20. “Found in a garage, metal stem with rubber ‘cups’ & hose bib attachment.”

tacosarefriends:
These are called outboard flushing muffs. They’re placed on the water intake of an outboard boat motor and hooked up to a garden hose so you can run it on dry land, since outboard motors are water-cooled.

The_Other_Alexa (OP):
Solved!

21. “Small thin carboard packaging type material pull tab with image indicating not for pregnant women”

“As title states, small thin cardboard like material pull tabs seemingly from possibly the packaging of a product, the imagery indicates it is not for pregnant women

Didn’t have any change, would have preferred to use a quarter for comparison but only had paper bills thus second image shows them next to a dollar bill for size comparison

Found a whole bunch of these hidden at the bottom of a trash can, maybe 20 plus altogether. Was found at a facility that cares for and educates high school age children of which some live at the facility.”

KokuhakuKitsune:
That looks like the flap off a box of medication called Isotretinoin. I take that medication, and that’s what’s on the box.

terrylterrylbobarrel:
I took Accutane 20 years ago and instantly recognized that pull tab.

MexicanVanilla22:
That’s an acne medication, for those who don’t know — a modern medical miracle, according to some.

22. “Found this in a kitchen drawer. A dark colored hard board about 1’x2’.”

“Does anyone recognize the logo or know what this is used for?”

Tomster1948:
Bath mat.

PrincessAmethyst:
Or just a drying board, depending on the size. Made from diatomaceous earth.

EdynM (OP):
Solved!

23. “Strange handheld needle-like piston. About 20″ long and made of metal.”

“Child brought this home from thrift store. It’s about 20” long and the “hose” is about 1/8″ in diameter. When the plunger is pressed a little needle thing comes out the other end. (As shown in last picture.)”

36rnt:
Camera shutter locking cable release.

Trainzguy2472:
Yep. This was how you took selfies back in the day, or did long exposures without shaking the camera by pressing the button.

0x600dc0de:
Upvote for mentioning the camera shake — this particular one is kinda short for the selfie application!

pixlfarmer:
I used to use a cable like this for long-exposure astrophotography on an old film SLR. You can push the shutter open and lock it on the cable.

comedydave1978:
Definitely this. I have a few old ones myself.

Skull9466 (OP):
Solved, thanks!

24. “Uneven Staple with flat bits? Found in Dryer”

“Kind of like a staple with uneven, long arms (legs?). Dulled ends and flattened bits along the legs (arms?). Stronger material than a paperclip, not as strong as a pinhead nail. 0.8 cm wide, 3.5 cm long, (2.8 cm long on short side), 1 mm thick. Flattened bits are 1.0 cm. I’m guessing about 1 gram. I found it stuck in the dryer, but we have a chaotic household, so could be from anything.”

kaeorin:
Did someone buy a new dress shirt lately? Or does anyone in your house wear dress shirts? It looks like one of those little “pins” (not sharp) that keep fancy shirts folded neatly in stores.

Edit: Wait, maybe I’m misremembering. Does your piece bend easily? I might be thinking of these kinds of shirt clips.

fakeyero:
Definitely a dress shirt holder-togetherer.

IscahRambles:
Technical term!

Ok-Acanthisitta2255 (OP):
Likely solved! Still not sure why it has those flat bits or where it came from. The last dress shirt we got was probably a year ago.

25. “Metal object with holes, about 5 inches tall, possibly a farming implement, found near the site of an 1870s-ish house”

“My dad went out with a metal detector near the site of the original house on his property. This was one of the things he dug up.”

RickyDontLoseThat:
I’m no farmer but I think it’s an old plow clevis.

wtf_are_crepes:
“I’m no farmer, but here’s the exact piece of ancient niche farm equipment.” Haha good job dude.

stelleka (OP):
Solved!