What is this thing? 20 strange finds, the meaning of which was explained by those in the know (24 photos)

We regularly come across things that we can't immediately identify. All these strange objects excite our imagination and torment us with doubts, but as always, online experts come to the rescue, solving all mysteries quickly and easily.





"What is this thing?"



Answer: "It's a machine. You place it on your inner thighs and try to squeeze it, like a resistance band, with your hand. This machine is mostly used by women."

"When I visited my relatives' farm in Ireland, I saw this thing. What could it be?"





Answer: "It's a turnip seeder."

"I saw this thing in my grandmother's kitchen, but I have no idea what it is or what it's for."



Answer: "This thing allows you to hold a match, carefully strike it, and turn on the gas inside the oven to light it. People who are afraid of getting burned use these."

"I found this contraption in the attic. What is it?"



Answer: "It's an old children's toy shaped like a carousel. It's missing the parts that spin around."

"I got this thing from my grandfather, and some of its parts spin. What is it?"



Answer: "This is a perpetual calendar created by James G. Blaine in 1884."

"Walking along the beach, I came across this thing. What could it be?"



Answer: "This is a filter that got into the water from one of the purification systems and then washed ashore."

"What kind of antique is this?"



Answer: "It's an old acupressure roller."

"What's that thing attached to the back porch of the house I recently bought?"



Answer: "This device allows you to flatten a tin can in one motion and send it to the trash or recycling center."

"All I know about this thing is that it's made of glass. What is it?"



Answer: "It's a glass plunger from a larger old syringe."

"What is this forged device? Does anyone know?"



Answer: "It's a metal puzzle that's missing a few pieces."

"What is this device?"



Answer: "They make butter by kneading the cream before sending it to the churn."

"Two flexible bracelets with magnetic tips. What are they for? A quarter for comparison."



Answer: "These are most likely old-style curtain clips." Modern ones look like this:



"What kind of container is this? What is it used for?"



Answer: "This is a container for storing and transporting biological samples."

"While sorting through old things, I found this thing. It's pretty heavy. What could it be?"



Answer: "This is a jutte—a bladed weapon of Japanese origin. Ninjas and some police officers used them in the past."

"We found this thing at my friend's house. What could it be?"



Answer: "It's a mole trap."

"What kind of miniature hammer is this, and what kind of work is it used for?"



Answer: "This hammer is used to play a musical instrument called the kalimba."



"I found this thing among my ex-husband's things. What is it?"



Answer: "It's a special clamp that works like this:"



"Is this some kind of tool?" "I saw it at a sale."



Answer: "It's a haychak—a musical instrument common in Central Asia."

"What is this thing?" There are inscriptions on it in some Eastern language."



Answer: "You photographed this object upside down; it's an Arabic oil lamp."

"I found this in my husband's garage. What is it?"



Answer: "It's an RFID tag that likely used a radio signal to open and close the garage door."