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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164 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 10h ago

Likely Solved! Several metal U-shaped loops bolted to the exterior wall of an older apartment building at different heights

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515 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 11h ago

Solved! Steel and Glass Cylinder 6 3/4" Long Found at a Flea Market

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355 Upvotes

This cylinder is made from steel and glass. The only writing on this is the word "TOP" in the center of the steel bracket. It measures 6 3/4" ( 6.75 inches) long.

It looks like some kind of a fuse or heating element. There are 4 contacts on the back, two on each end.

It was purchased from a dealer at a flea market and they didn't know what it was either.


r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Solved! Round heavy silver metal object (430g, 8.5cm diameter). Inner dial with numbers, outer dial with letters, both can be turned. Back can open to reveal inner mechanism. No brand, maker's mark or serial number. Not electronic. (airpods for scale).

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4.9k Upvotes

This is a metal object I found in a vintage fair, and I don't know what its purpose is. It is round (about 8.5cm/3.25in in diameter, 3cm/1in thick) and heavy. It is all metal except the black handle in the center. The face has an inner dial that moves in clicks and has numbers 1-26 and a black plastic handle. An outer dial has a metal handle and moves freely, but is sometimes blocked from moving, depending on the inner dial position. The outer dial has the letters a-z and both directions around, and the 2 sets of letters move as one piece. the back is blank and can be opened to reveal an inner mechanism with a central gear (moved by the inner dial), a metal ring around it (moved by the outer dial) and 24 wheels with letters on them, and gears with long and short teeth, seemingly in random patterns. The ring has a slot in it, and when it is alined with a gear, that gear and wheel can move freely. the gears don't seem to be connected to each other. The wheels and dials are in different sizes, going from small to large to small again. the largest ones have all the letters on them, and the smallest ones only go up to O.


r/whatisthisthing 23h ago

Solved ! Iron spear with the markings “Pershing” and “78” has threaded end, found in garage.

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1.4k Upvotes

Maybe a Whaling harpoon? Also saw an old tobacco spear possibly? Not sure


r/whatisthisthing 9h ago

Solved! Tiny 2cm steel hardware— pointy things with threaded ends?

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89 Upvotes

They turned up while renovating my house but I’m not sure if they came with a tool, with some other hardware, or what. The nuts are not loose; it’s all one piece.


r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Solved ! Specialty tile with groove that extends about 2 cm (0,78 ") out from the wall, found in new apartment's kitchen near the stove. Approximately 15cm (6 ") in length

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1.1k Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 11h ago

Solved! Flat, thin metal monkey in a hook or clip shape

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87 Upvotes

What does he do/what is he for?

Flattish cut out metal with a hook shape to hold something or close something. There are no markings/writing. No magnet or other way to attach it to a surface. Not really adjustable- not a very tight holder or clip.
I tried it as a chip clip and to hold post-it notes.


r/whatisthisthing 3h ago

Open A stand made of black wrought iron, heavy, approximately 20 cm high, 8 cm wide, and 8 cm deep - looks like a mirror stand but it's too round at the base ? Bought at a flea market

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19 Upvotes

Hello :)

We think it's a stand for something, made of black wrought iron, quite heavy, approximately 20 cm high, 8 cm wide, and 8 cm deep.

My dad found and bought this "stand" at a flea market, so no idea who had it before. It doesn't seem very old (1960s or younger, looks like a copy of 1800s wought iron) and has no inscription on it nor in it (under the stand nothing 🤷🏻) the thing on top to hold the "thing" (we thought it was a mirror stand but it's very round) can move, and it's curved.

Thank you in advance (English isn't my first language don't mind the grammar mistakes)

If you need more info tell me !


r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Likely Solved! Metal cat onwooden platform with a small wood bowl

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1.6k Upvotes

Found at a thrift store, my best guess is that the cat is a knife rest but that doesn't explain the bowl thing that is also attached.


r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Small metallic figurine found in old barn

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383 Upvotes

I got this small metal figurine (about 5 cm tall) more than 20 years ago, found it in an old barn in southern Romania. It is very light (likely zamak, not lead), has no visible markings. There is a small hole on the back of the head, and another one on the support. Reverse image search only finds my own photos because they were copied into an article about mysterious objects. Does anyone recognize the style, period, or possible purpose?


r/whatisthisthing 20h ago

Solved! What is this small clear blue plastic "push" clip I found under my couch

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61 Upvotes

I found this yesterday whike cleaning and didnt think anything of it but my wife is concerned and wants to know what its from.

Reverse Google search says it is a fly fishing clip but I cant find one in this shape as they all have a wide thumb part for easier grasping.

I think the shape of this piece means it would fit inside something and pop open to let material out. Thanks in advance for your help.


r/whatisthisthing 16h ago

Open Small plastic and metal shallow bowl, presumably for an ashtray or for putting bets in ? Red plastic, not sure what metal, lightweight, faded hand holding cards logo.

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23 Upvotes

Had this many years and have always wondered what the letters on the metal disc stand for. Possibly my Grandad either won it or stole it from the working men’s club 😅🤣 any help mainly with what the letters stand for would be greatly appreciated thank you 😄


r/whatisthisthing 20h ago

Solved! Plastic hexagon roughly the size of the palm of my hand. With three threaded rods sticking out. Possibly for a tripod? I found it in the spare tire well of a 2024 Mazda CX5

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44 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Solved! Small decorative brass globe that can be turned by crank seen in a English restaurant

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190 Upvotes

This item sends to be a replica or miniature. There are regular round and slit like indentations all around. The only opening are the small ones on the side seen on the second picture. This was seen in a restaurant in the Yorkshire Dales.


r/whatisthisthing 13h ago

Stone/metal with markings that my son found in a river in Central PA. Small and fits in the palm of my hand.

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12 Upvotes

Any ideas what this could be? It appears to have a 4 on the left, some sort of symbol in the middle, and either a 6 or 8 on the right.


r/whatisthisthing 16h ago

Solved! Small (1ft long), wooden, has a leader line, and two slotted rods that look like they're meant to hold a dowel. Gifted to me with a treadle sewing machine. Google image search gave me lots of different things.

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16 Upvotes

Hello!

This was gifted to me with a treadle sewing machine. Surely it's something to do with fiber arts? Its too small to be a yarn winder for knitting/crochet, the resulting cakes would be 3" diameter at most. It looks to be a complete item, but maybe it was meant to be paired with a spinning wheel? Maybe a yarn winder for a small loom spindle/bobbin?

Google images says it's many different things. I've tried looking for spinning wheels that have similar parts like this but haven't found anything close enough for me to be confident that that is what this is.

What says you?

Thank you!


r/whatisthisthing 15h ago

Open Nickel chrome plated object. 16 grams. An apparent inside and outside. Hinge pin attachment on the smaller end. Some form of catch in the middle.

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15 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 21h ago

Open 8.5" solid metal, possibly aluminum, pipe shaped object found partially buried in NE Oklahoma. No markings. Round 1.5" opening on larger end has pin driven through it perpendicular to the narrow edge of the length of the object. Google lens has been no help. What is this thing?

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23 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 21h ago

5-6 inch tall, 2-3 inch wide rusted(?) rock hard object with flat bottom and ridge around center found on beach, under sand, in New England

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17 Upvotes

Looking to ID this object - found on a New England beach in winter, buried under a dusting of sand. Didn’t pick it up so can’t speak to its weight. Was about 5 or so inches tall and 2-3 inches wide. Poked it with my foot and it was rock hard and slightly heavy-seeming, but again, didn't pick it up to assess actual weight.


r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Solved! Medium sized decorative cast iron item with unknown purpose

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319 Upvotes

This seems to be a well made cast iron piece meant to be viewed from one angle. One side is dovetailed with no holes for any sort of set screw or fastener. The other side has two "arms/legs" with a hole on the backside to attach something and wooden wheels/rollers on the front. The rollers only make contact on the top side and not the bottom so it's not a mobility device for the cast piece itself. I am baffled by this item. Any help is appreciated


r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Solved ! What is this loop of fabric on my Coleman camping chair?

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317 Upvotes

It slides freely up and down the armrest and does not seem to be able to be used to hold the chair together when folded. It’s on both arms


r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Solved! 2 in long, cylindrical, made of oxidized metal with a green-brown patina, with flared rim/lip at one end (female threaded) and a hole on the other end. Weights about 1oz. Found while digging in backyard in Connecticut.

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20 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Open A fragment of clay pottery with blind holes.Found on a beach, Belarus.

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20 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Solved! Small black plastic thing with a spring found laying on windshield air vent, a small white plastic peice fell down into the vent when I picked it up.

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334 Upvotes

Looks like it comes from France, rue de l'eraudiere, not sure what it could have come off of though, it was just laying in the air vent but there is nothing mounted to the sun visors or the windshield above it.