24 Baffling Objects People Had to Ask the Internet to Identify (25 Photos)

Fascinating finds can turn up where you least expect them. We often stumble upon weird gadgets while clearing out old clutter, moving into a new home, or traveling abroad. Even a casual walk in the park or down a city street can reveal something utterly bizarre and puzzling. Whenever people find these mysteries, they head straight online—knowing the internet always comes through with an answer.





"What is this thing? It doesn't open."



Answer: "It's a flower frog base for ikebana arrangements."

"What is this? Any ideas?"





Answer: "It's a holder for a thermometer, which slides right inside."

"What on earth is this contraption?"



Answer: "It's a shoe tree used for high-end footwear. The wider end goes into the toe box and the smaller end fits the heel. It preserves the shape of the shoe, protects the leather from moisture, and neutralizes odors."

"I pulled my string lights out of the closet to hang outside and noticed this. What is it?"



Answer: "Looks like a cluster of moth eggs waiting to hatch."

"Found this in a field. What is it?"



Answer: "It's the stationary guard section from a sickle bar cutting assembly. These are used on combines and other farm equipment for harvesting crops and working the soil."

"What kind of strange corkscrew is this?"



Answer: "It's a decorative corkscrew that doubles as a trivet for hot pots or teapots."

"I found this object inside an old refrigerator. What was it used for?"



Answer: "Back in the day, tools like this were used to chip away frost and ice build-up inside freezer compartments."

"What kind of relic is this?"



Answer: "It's an antique check writer machine."

"What is this? Found it at the store, looks really vintage."



Answer: "It's a home video editing console. An old one, designed specifically for working with physical film."

"What is this gadget?"



Answer: "It's a tool designed to easily cut tubing of various diameters."

"What kind of weird spoon is this?"



Answer: "It's a classic cream soup spoon."

"What is this? Found it in my kitchen."



Answer: "It's a pastry lattice cutter used for making strudel. Here's how it works:"



This is what a modern version looks like.

"Found this in a shop. What is it?"



Answer: "It's a manual Turkish coffee grinder."

"Found these in the woods. What are they?"



Answer: "Those are shotgun wads. They separate the gunpowder from the shot inside a shell."

"What is this? Found it among my dad's tools."



Answer: "It's a grinding wheel dresser, used to clean and reshape abrasive grinding wheels."

"What is this unusual piece?"



Answer: "It's a part from a circular knitting machine."

"What is this?"



Answer: "It's a vintage mechanical pencil."

"What is this? Anyone know?"



Answer: "These are sugar nips, used for cutting and breaking up large loaves of sugar."

"Can anyone tell me what this is?"



Answer: "It's a portable camping can opener."

"Found this at a flea market. What is it?"



Answer: "It's an antique pin cushion."

"What is this?"



Answer: "It's a saw set tool, used to align and adjust the angle of saw teeth."

"I've always wondered, what is this circular indent on milk jugs for?"



Answer: "If you drop the jug or leave it in the fridge past its expiration date, the jug won't burst. The expanding pressure will simply pop that circle outward."

"Why is there a block of wood in this brick wall?"



Answer: "Usually, wooden blocks like that were built into masonry so fixtures or trim could be nailed into them. For whatever reason, this piece was simply left bare in the wall."

"Found this in my dad's room. What is it?"



Answer: "They are ice cleats designed to slip over shoes to prevent slipping on icy surfaces."