Some people enjoy exploring antiquated shops, while others stumble upon hidden treasures in their basements. However, they share a common experience—they encounter peculiar items and initially struggle to discern their purpose. Fortunately, the internet abounds with experts ready and willing to assist in unraveling these enigmas.
1. “Found in a kitchen drawer. Stiff, but still bends a little.”
Answer: “It goes through a hole at the end of measuring spoon sets to keep them together.”
2. “Received a random Amazon parcel addressed to me that I didn’t order, what is this thing?”
Answer: “It looks like a gripper to hold fish by the mouth without harming them.”
3. “Found in my dad’s room.”
Answer: “It goes over shoes to give a grip on ice.”
4. “What is this stabby thing on wheels that arrived in the mail by mistake from Jamaica, NY?”
Answer: “It’s for weeding cracks and crevices.”
5. “A co-worker collects mystery objects and can’t identify this.”
Answer: “It’s a spark tester for a small engine.”
6. “Found this rubber thing on my stoop.”
Answer: “Water bottle holder.”
7. “Dinner table conversation… What do you think it is?”
Answer: “Lemon juicer.”
8. “Why is this toilet bowl shaped this way?”
Answer: “To hold a bedpan to collect specimens.”
9. “Colorful, plastic objects found at a thrift store. What is it?”
Answer: “Possibly pieces to a children’s play set of some sort.”
10. “What is this? A small bakelite toilet container with a spoon.”
Answer: “Could be a little salt well or ‘salt cellar’ or ‘salt pig’. They have spoons about this size and the bowl of this is pretty small.”
11. “Got this for free as a giveaway at a convention… I have no idea what it could be.”
Answer: “It’s a portable trash bag/dog poo bag holder.”
12. “Kids got these for Halloween. They are thin plastic, and say OM 5/22 made in China on the back.”
Answer: “They are stencils, popular in the 90s.”
13. “Golden-coloured opaque glass object about 25cm tall. Weights about 40g.”
Answer: “It’s a decor item.”
14. “Found this at a garage sale…”
Answer: “For opening a soft-boiled egg.”
15. “Metallic rocket-shaped object. Has three fins, & the end of a screw is sticking out of the base.”
Answer: “Salt and pepper shakers.”
Do you have an appreciation for the unconventional? Take a look at these items that may appear peculiar at first glance but, in reality, serve entirely distinctive purposes.