A Napkin Holder Umbrella and 22 Other Baffling Objects Solved by the Internet (24 photos)

We constantly run into mystery objects that leave us scratching our heads. While these baffling items spark curiosity and endless guessing games, internet sleuths are always ready to step in and solve the mystery in no time.





"This is a family heirloom, slightly larger than a standard battery. The cap has numbers on it, but I can't seem to figure out the right combination to open it."



Answer: "It's a needle case, and the numbers on the cap aren't a combination lock. It opens normally, and the numbers indicate the needle size that drops out of the bottom when you press down on the cap."

"What is this thing? Any ideas?"





Answer: "It's a tube clamp designed for pipes of various diameters, used prior to prepping the ends—for flaring, splitting, or shaping."

"My grandfather was a mechanic, so I suspect this might be some kind of machine part. Can anyone help identify it? I'd like to know if it's worth keeping or throwing out."



Answer: "It's part of a ratchet mechanism used to control intermittent rotary motion."

"Found this setup at the edge of the woods. As far as I can tell, it's filled with water and has four blue rotating spheres. If you press down on them hard enough, they depress about a centimeter. What on earth is this?"



Answer: "It's a livestock and wildlife waterer. Animals lick the spheres to get water."

"What is this massive object being transported on the back of this truck?"



Answer: "It's a 2,800-liter Klargester septic tank."

"Spotted this in a doctor's office. What is it used for?"



Answer: "It's a faucet aerator key used to remove or tighten aerators. Don't throw it away!"

"Found these small liquid-filled vials with built-in needles in a workshop. What are they used for?"



Answer: "They're precision oilers. The vial contains oil, and the needle allows for precise application. They're commonly used by watchmakers and fine mechanics."

"Found this press among some old tools in my garage. What was it used for?"



Answer: "It's a vintage bottle capper."

"What kind of mechanical device is this?"



Answer: "That music box mechanism is known as a barrel organ."

"Found this object inside a molehill. What could it be?"



Answer: "It's most likely a weight used for fishing nets."

"Found this sealed metal tube with a metal detector. It has a bat emblem on one end. What is it?"



Answer: "You found a vintage lipstick tube! Here's what it looks like open:"



"My wife and I found this spoon in an old set of kitchen utensils. Why does it have holes in it? Is it just decorative?"



Answer: "It's an antique pea serving spoon."

"Spotted this lever contraption inside an old barn. Any idea what it was used for?"



Answer: "It's a grain dispenser designed to measure and dispense a set portion of feed directly into a bucket underneath. Extremely handy on a farm."

"My mom claims this is an old stand, but what was it meant to hold?"



Answer: "It's an umbrella-shaped napkin holder. Here's how it looks with napkins:"



"What is this complex setup?"



Answer: "It's an equatorial mount for a telescope."

"Found this tool among my grandfather's old things. Is it a hoe? It has a very odd shape."



Answer: "Not quite—it's a woodworking adze used for hollowing out timber, like making a dugout canoe."

"Saw this device at a supermarket and got curious. What is it?"



Answer: "It's a tagging gun used to attach price tags to clothing."

"What is this bizarre split bowl?"



Answer: "It's an antique table crumb sweeper set."

"What is this tool used for? Any ideas?"



Answer: "You dip the outside of the iron cups in batter and then submerge them in deep oil to make edible pastry shells for desserts."

"Found this metal object while working on my property. What could it be?"



Answer: "It's a traditional Hindu ritual spice box, missing its central spindle. Here's what a complete one looks like:"