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The answers come to those who seek them. Especially on the subreddit 'What Is This Thing?'

This online community is home to 2.3 million members who are always ready to help people identify the mysterious objects they found.

The gig is simple: someone uploads a photo of whatever it is they want the name of, and the gang starts commenting under it, offering their input until, inevitably, a person shows up who knows exactly what it is.

However, even if you're not posting anything, scrolling through their solved cases feels like an interesting challenge, where you can test (and expand) your own knowledge. So we invite you to do just that!

#1

Strange Metal Thing On The Bottom Of My Drivers Side

Strange Metal Thing On The Bottom Of My Drivers Side

Answer: Your mechanic is gonna want that back. It’s part of a lift.

BlueFlames1723 Report

#2

This Metal Piece Is Attached To The Wall In A Wc In My Airbnb In France

This Metal Piece Is Attached To The Wall In A Wc In My Airbnb In France

Answer: It's a magazine rack installed upside down because people decorating Airbnb's don't know what they're doing.

mmay_a Report

#3

Saw This In A Restroom Which Has Faucets And Drain Down Low And A Dryer

Saw This In A Restroom Which Has Faucets And Drain Down Low And A Dryer

Answer: This setup prevents Muslims from having to lift our legs up dangerously high while trying to stick our feet in the sink one at a time. The alternative to that is we have to take a handful of water and pour it onto our feet below the sink causing the floor to get wet. Muslims also have to keep their feet clean before praying, which is obviously problematic in a bathroom where everyone pisses on the floor and walks with their shoes between the stalls and the sink, so you might see them trying to keep one shoe on while washing the other foot and then switching. It’s also why we take our shoes off before praying and use prayer rugs to avoid touching unclean things while praying.

atomicdragon136 Report

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#4

Round Shelf Attached By Metal Brackets To Underside Of Table. What Is It For?

Round Shelf Attached By Metal Brackets To Underside Of Table. What Is It For?

Answer: It's a place to rest your beer while you play cards.

One_Has_Lepers Report

#5

Weird Semi Circle Wires With Various Beads On A Wooden Plank Found In An Older House

Weird Semi Circle Wires With Various Beads On A Wooden Plank Found In An Older House

Answer: A Himalayan Calendar. The outer ring as 12 balls, each corresponding to a month. The next two rings have a tens and ones digit. The tens has three balls for up to the 31st, and the next has nine balls, for 0 to 9. And then four rings for the year, up to 9999.

Oxfordcommapreacher Report

#6

Hard, Waxy, Blob-Looking Thing Found During Low Tide

Hard, Waxy, Blob-Looking Thing Found During Low Tide

Answer: It's whale sick get it checked it could be worth thousands a kg. It's an ingredient used in high end perfumes.

Swimming_Sea964 Report

#7

What Is This? It’s Made Like A Barrel But Looks Like A Carrier Of Some Kind?

What Is This? It’s Made Like A Barrel But Looks Like A Carrier Of Some Kind?

Answer: It is a Vasculum, a sturdy collection container used by botanists on field excursions in which plant specimens can be collected without damaging them.

Valuable-Camera-7107 Report

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#8

Steel, Engraved, Hooked Tool Hidden In The Foundation Of An Old House

Steel, Engraved, Hooked Tool Hidden In The Foundation Of An Old House

Answer: My wife says horse hoof cleaning tool, and she's a major horse gal. Also, burying an iron object within the foundation of a home was once considered good luck.

StarsSuck Report

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#9

Made Of Clay/Terra Cotta, Can Fit Inside A Palm. It Came With Something I Bought But Can't Remember What

Made Of Clay/Terra Cotta, Can Fit Inside A Palm. It Came With Something I Bought But Can't Remember What

Answer: Terra cotta sugar saver. You put it in with your brown sugar to keep it from clumping or drying out in storage.

potatochild001 Report

#10

What Is This Spoon With A Tong-Like Attachment? Seen In An Antique Store In Lyon, France

What Is This Spoon With A Tong-Like Attachment? Seen In An Antique Store In Lyon, France

Answer: It is a spoon designed to separate the fat from the sauce, called "cuillère dégraisseuse".

bazoid Report

#11

Found On Charmouth Beach, Dorset. Screw Cap And Has Bright Green Liquid Inside

Found On Charmouth Beach, Dorset. Screw Cap And Has Bright Green Liquid Inside

Answer: It’s a diver rescue marker, for ocean rescue. You release it to dye the water around you and even at night a blacklight can light it up.

howitzer1 Report

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#12

What Is This Wall Mounted Metal Thing That Was Seen In Hohensalzburg Fortress? There Were 3 Or 4 Rooms With One Of These Objects And None Had An Explanation

What Is This Wall Mounted Metal Thing That Was Seen In Hohensalzburg Fortress? There Were 3 Or 4 Rooms With One Of These Objects And None Had An Explanation

Answer: These are pretty much radiators that were filled with embers and/or hot stones when needed.

Shadow_F3r4L Report

#13

This Plaque Came In As As Scrap Metal. Measures Approx 1.5ft X 6in. Made Of Cast Aluminum. Google Turns Up No Results. Witt??

This Plaque Came In As As Scrap Metal. Measures Approx 1.5ft X 6in. Made Of Cast Aluminum. Google Turns Up No Results. Witt??

Answer: Probably a horse. The bottom is the sire and dam.

Wequiwa Report

#14

Found In Kitchen Junk Drawer. Heavy, Solid Brass

Found In Kitchen Junk Drawer. Heavy, Solid Brass

Answer: Telephone dialer. You put the ball end in the desired number of the phone dial instead of your finger tip and used it to turn the dial.

boneyheimer Report

#15

What Is This Oval Metal Thing In A Plastic Holder Mounted To The Kitchen Wall Next To The Sink?

What Is This Oval Metal Thing In A Plastic Holder Mounted To The Kitchen Wall Next To The Sink?

Answer: Steel "soap" bar. Removes odors like onion from ur hands when u wash with it by just adding a strong steel odor on top.

inzombiac Report

#16

1940 Mercury Dime Turned Into A Two Sided Spoon Of Some Sort With Fused Ring At The Top. Came With Odds And Ends From Deceased Older Relative From Ohio

1940 Mercury Dime Turned Into A Two Sided Spoon Of Some Sort With Fused Ring At The Top. Came With Odds And Ends From Deceased Older Relative From Ohio

Answer: A vintage spoon pendant used for illegal substances.

tlmsmith Report

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#17

4 Inches, Plastic, Pointed On One Side. Received As A Xmas Gift?! Witt??

4 Inches, Plastic, Pointed On One Side. Received As A Xmas Gift?! Witt??

Answer: Looks like a page spreader for reading. Point end goes into the spine and thumb in hole so you can one hand books easy.

Karljoneill Report

#18

What Are These Heavy Metal Objects I Found In A Thrift Store?

What Are These Heavy Metal Objects I Found In A Thrift Store?

Answer: You hang weights on chains to power mechanical cuckoo clocks. One powers the clock mechanism, and the other powers the cuckoo. The weight turns gears in the mechanism as the chain drops. To wind the clock, you pull on the other end of the chain and bring the weight back up, and the same for the chain that powers the cuckoo.

reddit.com Report

#19

Bought A New Pair Of Nike Shoes. Inside The Box Was This Small, Plastic Bubble, Filled With Air, And What Looks Like Tiny, Colorful Micro Plastics. Has A Loophole On The Top And Is About An Inch Long

Bought A New Pair Of Nike Shoes. Inside The Box Was This Small, Plastic Bubble, Filled With Air, And What Looks Like Tiny, Colorful Micro Plastics. Has A Loophole On The Top And Is About An Inch Long

Answer: Micro plastic particles. Probably to show how Nike helps to clean up our planet. Greenwashing at best.

tsirs Report

#20

What's This Heavy, Brass, Genie Lamp-Like Object With Both A Weird Cutout Spout And A Narrow Upwards Spout?

What's This Heavy, Brass, Genie Lamp-Like Object With Both A Weird Cutout Spout And A Narrow Upwards Spout?

Answer: It’s a lamp. It’s literally an oil lamp, to be used to create light. The wick goes in the spout. The oil goes in the belly. You light the wick and a flame will burn on the end of the spout like a little candle, and you can carry your lantern around with you.

FlaxxtotheMaxx Report

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#21

What Would This Antique Silver “Locket” Have Been Used For? It Looks Like Possibly Ink Residue On The Two Pads Inside, But No Indication That The Inside Door Would Have Been Sealed Tightly Enough To Be A Reservoir

What Would This Antique Silver “Locket” Have Been Used For? It Looks Like Possibly Ink Residue On The Two Pads Inside, But No Indication That The Inside Door Would Have Been Sealed Tightly Enough To Be A Reservoir

Answer: It's actually a purse. There's space in there for some coins for bus/cab fare, some powder makeup (behind the little door), and calling cards.

didilamour Report

#22

A Short Thick Metal Coil That Can Be Plugged Into An Outlet. Doesn't Seem Very Safe At All. I'm Thinking It's Missing A Larger Piece That Creates It's True Purpose

A Short Thick Metal Coil That Can Be Plugged Into An Outlet. Doesn't Seem Very Safe At All. I'm Thinking It's Missing A Larger Piece That Creates It's True Purpose

Answer: Immersion heater. The metal piece goes into a cup of water and heats it.

Commercial_Wasabi_86 Report

#23

Found This Spiked Metal Collar Hanging In One Of The Upstairs Rooms In The House I Just Bought In Spain

Found This Spiked Metal Collar Hanging In One Of The Upstairs Rooms In The House I Just Bought In Spain

Answer: Anti-wolf collar for sheepdogs.

delilahgabj Report

#24

Small Trailer With Individual Openings. Seen While Driving, No Obvious Marking That Would Indicate What It’s For

Small Trailer With Individual Openings. Seen While Driving, No Obvious Marking That Would Indicate What It’s For

Answer: It's for transporting racing pigeons.

Subaru_turtle Report

#25

What Is This Cabinet On Wheels I Got At An Antiques Market? The Drawers Can Be Accessed From The Front As Well As From The Back, There Are Also Two Compartments With Small Key (???) Hooks On Each Side

What Is This Cabinet On Wheels I Got At An Antiques Market? The Drawers Can Be Accessed From The Front As Well As From The Back, There Are Also Two Compartments With Small Key (???) Hooks On Each Side

Answer: This is just a scientific specimen cabinet, which could be used for anything from geology to lepidopterology.

IGutenberg Report

#26

Found This In Our Donation Bin, We're A Nonprofit, We Recycle Eyeglasses And Hearing Aids. It's A Gold Plated Speaker With A Short Cord With 2 Prongs At The End, It Also Has A Gold Plated Clip With An Opal-Like Material Of A Horse On It

Found This In Our Donation Bin, We're A Nonprofit, We Recycle Eyeglasses And Hearing Aids. It's A Gold Plated Speaker With A Short Cord With 2 Prongs At The End, It Also Has A Gold Plated Clip With An Opal-Like Material Of A Horse On It

Answer: An old Beltone type hearing aid. There's a transistor in the tie clip, and it plugs into a cord for the hearing aid.

badluckninja13 Report

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#27

Wooden Block With 6 Metal Fins, Inscribed 'Hemma Patent'

Wooden Block With 6 Metal Fins, Inscribed 'Hemma Patent'

Answer: Cabbage sliced for making sauerkraut.

Interesting_Usual882 Report

#28

Strange Looking Hook Thing Found Buried In A Hutch. The Inscription On The Hook Side Is In French. Any Ideas?

Strange Looking Hook Thing Found Buried In A Hutch. The Inscription On The Hook Side Is In French. Any Ideas?

Answer: It's a butter curler, for making fancy bits of butter.

Curious-Creation Report

#29

What Are These Little Knit Tubes?

What Are These Little Knit Tubes?

Answer: They can be used to avoid chairs scratching your floors. So they are socks, but for chairs rather than humans.

InevitableDevice2182 Report

#30

Found In A Safe In A Deceased Man's House: 11 Identical Stacks Of Thin Black Paper Strips, Wrapped In Plastic Foil, Covered In Fine White Dust. Measurements Of Each Strip Approximately 16 Cm X 6,5 Cm, Height Of Each Stack Approximately 5 Cm. Other Than That, The Safe Was Empty

Found In A Safe In A Deceased Man's House: 11 Identical Stacks Of Thin Black Paper Strips, Wrapped In Plastic Foil, Covered In Fine White Dust. Measurements Of Each Strip Approximately 16 Cm X 6,5 Cm, Height Of Each Stack Approximately 5 Cm. Other Than That, The Safe Was Empty

Answer: "Black Money Scam". It's construction paper or similar, he was scammed to believe it was currency dyed to be smuggled and could be restored.

sbs_str_9091 Report

#31

Plastic Ring With Three Relatively Sharp Metal Claws, Found On Beach In Scotland

Plastic Ring With Three Relatively Sharp Metal Claws, Found On Beach In Scotland

Answer: It's a "claw" to help pull in fishing nets.

machukahn Report

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#32

We Found This On Top Of A Bookcase While Cleaning Our Office. It Appears That The Jar Is Sealed. The White Things Inside Weigh Next To Nothing. We Didn’t Want To Open It Until We Have Some Idea As To What It Is. They Look Pretty Soft. Nothing Identifying On The Jar Itself

We Found This On Top Of A Bookcase While Cleaning Our Office. It Appears That The Jar Is Sealed. The White Things Inside Weigh Next To Nothing. We Didn’t Want To Open It Until We Have Some Idea As To What It Is. They Look Pretty Soft. Nothing Identifying On The Jar Itself

Answer: They look like silkworm cocoons.

loveofGod12345 Report

#33

What Is This Wavy Pattern On The Back Of A Piece Of Mail I Received?

What Is This Wavy Pattern On The Back Of A Piece Of Mail I Received?

Answer: Obfuscation pattern, it's there to hide info or keep people from trying to read through an envelope and look at personal information.

1nesandzer0s Report

#34

Plastic Device With A Blade That Cuts A Chunk Out Of Paper

Plastic Device With A Blade That Cuts A Chunk Out Of Paper

Answer: Wow, that's a blast from the past. It's for write protecting a 5.25" floppy disk.
It’s for making a single sided disk double sided.

R_McN Report

#35

I Spotted A Few Of These Wrought Iron Poles On A Road In Central London, They Must Have Had Some Historical Usage, But I'm Not Sure What. Perhaps For Lamps? Did The Circle At The Top Used To Hold Something? Was The Arm On The Right For Hanging Something?

I Spotted A Few Of These Wrought Iron Poles On A Road In Central London, They Must Have Had Some Historical Usage, But I'm Not Sure What. Perhaps For Lamps? Did The Circle At The Top Used To Hold Something? Was The Arm On The Right For Hanging Something?

Answer: It's an early 19th C Gaslamp. The gas is piped up the pole, and a copper pipe would have extended into the glass lamp house, which fitted into the hoop.

scientificdramatist Report

Note: this post originally had 139 images. It’s been shortened to the top 35 images based on user votes.

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