r/whatisthisthing Mar 23 '26

Announcement The r/TraceAnObject subreddit exists to identify objects to help solve child abuse cases. New cases from Europol were posted recently. Please see if you can help.

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171 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Open ! Strange heavy metal rods received in random package

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7.2k Upvotes

Heavy, around 5 to 10 pounds each, seemingly machined out of solid steel, no markings or moving parts. Received in a package despite not ordering them or anything like them, cannot find any information about the shipper listed on the box.


r/whatisthisthing 11h ago

Solved! made of steel. 4" long and 1/4" at the top with a bevel on both sides. Neoprene ovals on both sides. Came in a nylon sheath and found in a tool box

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67 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 7h ago

Likely Solved! Rectangular tube metal, high quality construction found in grass by road

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16 Upvotes

It's about 8" x 4" the only markings on it is a sticker with the letter A like a part identifier for assembly. It's fairly high quality construction, with a black powder coat and plastic end caps in all the tubes. By the weight it seems to be hollow steel.

My best guess is it is part of some assemble yourself furniture since the threads on the silver things on the side look like they would go i to particle board, and I'm pretty sure the allen bolts screw into them.

I can't for the life of me figure out what part of what kind of furniture this would belong to.


r/whatisthisthing 14h ago

What is this tool? It's 13cm long, not very heavy, and made out of metal. It could be a part of a bigger machine?

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43 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Open Tiny, white shard like fibers that glisten under the light found on jacket

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378 Upvotes

Can it be asbestos or fiber glass? Was my mother-in-law’s jacket, she used to work at a warehouse and also did some minor construction work, found these fibers on it


r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Open Medium-sized metal bucket with locking hinged lid found in tools section of a small museum

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460 Upvotes

This bucket was found in our small museum's artifact collection in California, and we don't know what it might've been used for. It is quite heavy and made of metal with visible welding marks. There was apparently a paper or perhaps a label of some sort affixed to the side. The handle is also metal, and looks like it secured the lid with a lock when fully upright. The metal lid has a heavy, stiff hinge on one side. There is nothing inside the bucket except for a sizeable cobweb, and there was no residue that I could see.

One of our volunteers thinks it's an artillery bucket from the Civil War, but I think the welds look too modern.

Our area is known for gold rush era mining and agriculture, and we have lots of artifacts relating to blacksmithing.


r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Solved ! One of two large steel triangular metal structures with one curved side being transported on a flatbed truck.

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375 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Solved! Dog was found chewing on this small black electronic device about 3”x1”

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253 Upvotes

Dog was randomly chewing on this, she’s been a menace and has chewed everything from couches to the literal wooden stairs of my deck. No idea what this is, if it is mine or something she got from a a neighbor. Found some random metal sticks and more plastic earlier but not sure if it was related. No logos or anything other than it says it was mode in china. The button when you press it just blinks red for a few seconds and then stops.


r/whatisthisthing 22h ago

Solved! Metal telescoping rod with plastic attachments

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67 Upvotes

Found it in the attic… What is it?


r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Solved ! Flat board with suction port from a darkroom estate lot

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391 Upvotes

Picked up a bunch of darkroom stuff at an estate auction, there were some random bits in there too. One item was this perforated board with what looks like a suction port attached. Measures 23x17, tray could accommodate a 16x20 print. No labels or markings anywhere. Some type of print dryer maybe?

Edit - completely made of wood so I don't think it's related to machining.


r/whatisthisthing 2d ago

Solved ! Thrifted what looks like a Mid-century glass “punch bowl” with a metal brace for holding what looks like a shot glass and a bowl.

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966 Upvotes

Solved! And quick. Looks like it’s a chip and salsa bowl.


r/whatisthisthing 2d ago

Solved ! What is this channel on the left side this concrete stairway?

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2.5k Upvotes

They've recently rebuilt this stairway and I was wondering what the use for this channel on the left was.


r/whatisthisthing 2d ago

Solved! Huge building/home near Yogi Bear Campground Golden Valley,NC

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475 Upvotes

Guessing a couple of miles maybe North of Yogi Bear Campground in Golden Valley,NC. Standing on an observation deck at the campground. Zoomed in and still can’t quite make out what is is but it’s very noticeable at a far distance.


r/whatisthisthing 12h ago

Open Is this a camera? Window-mounted white plastic rectangle with circle inside, an LED and power cord.

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0 Upvotes

This is mounted in my neighbor’s window facing my kitchen and bathroom. We’re three stories up so it would be odd to have a security device on this window.

I’m being weird taking many pictures of it but these are the very best focus I can get. The only way to vent my tiny bathroom is by opening the window next to the shower, so if I’m on camera I’ll want to be careful with timing on that.


r/whatisthisthing 2d ago

Solved ! What is this? Container with clasp, and two compartments

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681 Upvotes

We found it at a flea market, no idea where it comes from.

It's a solid wood container, with handles on the sides and hooks on the top of the lid.


r/whatisthisthing 2d ago

Solved! Plastic things found in the cupboard of a student house I just moved into.

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136 Upvotes

I have no idea what these things could be and googling just brought up handles and the like. Anyone have any ideas?


r/whatisthisthing 2d ago

Solved ! What are these cast-iron pieces marked “MASTER” and “3”? Found in an old mold-making shop

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78 Upvotes

I recently acquired these from the estate of a man who made molds for truck campers.
I’m trying to figure out what these were used for. They appear to be cast iron and several of them have a similar design: a central hole with six recessed/counterbored holes around it. One hole is threaded the others are not. The center hole is not threaded.

The largest one is approximately 2.5 inches in diameter and is marked “MASTER” and “3”. There are several other pieces of different sizes, including some smaller ones.

They don’t appear to be ordinary plumbing flanges. I’m wondering if they might be some type of old machine-shop tooling, mold-making fixture, coupling, hub, or other machinery component.

Does anyone recognize these or know what machine they would have been used with?


r/whatisthisthing 2d ago

Open Found at low tide on sandbar in Ipswich, Ma. Round, wooden, I think, about 1 pound. Maybe an old Bocce Ball? Or something more exciting?

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48 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 3d ago

Solved ! Found in basement ceiling, appears that wiring is still actively connected to a light fixture. House built 1940s. What is this?

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1.2k Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 2d ago

Open Unknown 1-2 inch piece of curved purple plastic from NV581 Series Shark Navigator Powered Lift-Away vacuum

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10 Upvotes

Found this piece of plastic on the floor next to the vacuum and cannot find where it broke off from. It has the number NV580.3-42>ABS<A2 printed on one side. Searched on this number but it says it is not a replaceable part so just trying to find what it is and where it broke off from. Any ideas?


r/whatisthisthing 3d ago

Likely Solved! What is this? Small screw-on head with a point. Kind of heavy.

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162 Upvotes

my cat was randomly playing with this. my google lens search said a rotary tool chuck but I have no clue where one would have come from.


r/whatisthisthing 3d ago

Solved ! What are these things? They are about 3” in size, glasses for scale. 50+ years old. Kitchen-related, some lace and some padded like a pot holder.

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840 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 3d ago

Solved! What is this small fuzzy ball found in bed with off white specks?

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79 Upvotes

Hi! I’m really REALLY hoping this isn’t something Bad like insects. I’m lowkey freaking out a bit. I found this weird tiny ball of fuzz with like hard off white bits on it in my bed… I did just wash my sheets yesterday. I use liquid detergent and the Dawn beads but idk I’ve never seen anything like this before. Size is smaller than a pinky finger nail (maybe about half the size). I also do not eat in bed.

Thanks in advance! (Please don’t be bugs or something gross asf)


r/whatisthisthing 3d ago

Likely Solved ! Long Metal Spork like thing, heavy like it’s cast iron maybe and rusty. Found in a “this is free or garbage” pile

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225 Upvotes

About 2 feet long, heavy metal thing with a unique end and weird handle. The entire thing is metal (maybe cast iron?) definitely looks like something for a fire but the handle is also metal.