Barnorama Welcome To The Fun Barn
Some objects refuse to explain themselves. Pulled from garages, attics, barns and crawl spaces, each of these strange artifacts left its finder completely stumped — until someone online finally cracked the case. Scroll through, take your best guess, then see if you were right.
“Found this while cleaning out my grandad’s garage — some sort of mechanism with moving metal parts inside.”
It’s music-on-hold for a home telephone. The phone was placed on top of it to keep the caller entertained if they had to be put on hold during a conversation.
“Strange device found among things left behind by a tenant. The plastic lid screws onto the rubber sack and contains… balls.”
It’s an analog of an ordinary slingshot. You shoot metal balls with it — put a ball into the rubber sack and pull it back.
“Found this in a cupboard at an old farm and have no clue what it is.”
It’s an old device for making mayonnaise.
“Some kind of metal cage with a clamping action when you pull the handle.”
It’s a foot-operated potato planter.
“Received as a gift from my father-in-law, but I have no idea what it is used for.”
“I’m curious about the context of this gift — historically it was used to keep a patient’s mouth open during surgery to prevent suffocation.”
“Found it on the street — it’s filled with little metal balls.”
It’s a counterweight for an old adjustable-height chandelier or ceiling lamp.
“Suddenly found it in my house one day. It’s metal and relatively flexible, but it feels like it would break at some point.”
It’s “boning” from a corset.
“The part above the handle rotates…”
It’s a kite spindle — likely a reproduction of the ones used from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s.
“They’re about 2 feet tall, holes go through to the base, and they’re made of clay, I think.”
They look like chimney pots — probably removed when demolishing a house or upgrading a fireplace. If they’re attached to something underground, they may sit on top of a vent.
“What is this oval metal tool? Found it in a box of sewing and craft supplies.”
It’s a handle for carrying books. Two straps would pass through the holes on each end and wrap around the stack of books.
“Found this in the crawl space of a home. No engraving to hint at what it is, what it’s for, or how old it might be.”
It’s a gas heater from around the 1930s–50s. You’re seeing the side (the gas valve) and the back (the covered flue opening).
“What is this wooden and metal vintage thing?”
It’s a snooker cue tipper. The cue goes into the open end to straighten and shape the tip, and the file slots in horizontally to square it off — basically a pencil sharpener for a snooker cue.
“What’s this clip thing? I’ve found it on a lot of the vintage jewelry I bought online.”
It’s a dress clip. Often worn in pairs and clipped around the neckline of a dress, blouse or coat — designed not to leave a hole in the fabric the way a brooch would.
“What is the use of this fourth piece of cutlery I saw in a German museum?”
It’s a baby food pusher, quite common in the 1800s through the early 1900s.
“Found this room in an abandoned building. What was it for, and what are these things hanging from the ceiling?”
It’s a miners’ changing room. The hooks and baskets lift work clothes up and out of the way for the next shift.
“It had a partial label on it and a picture of a ski jumper. Any clue?”
It’s a vintage ski wax iron.
“Found in an old barn — the lid holds a mirror inside, the bag is burlap within and a different material outside, blue inside and with no smell.”
It’s a lady’s reticule — a tiny handbag popular in the 19th and early 20th century.
“Found it in the attic of a house I recently bought. It’s about 11.5″ × 5″, and the little flappy arms fold completely down, forward or backward.”
It’s a folding tie rack.
“Round, steel, with a rotating ball on a tripod and multiple lens or light holes. Bought at auction in 1988 — even the seller didn’t know what it was.”
It’s an operating room light with some pieces missing.