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.

MYSTERY 01Solved ✓

“Found this while cleaning out my grandad’s garage — some sort of mechanism with moving metal parts inside.”

Identified

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.

MYSTERY 02Solved ✓

“Strange device found among things left behind by a tenant. The plastic lid screws onto the rubber sack and contains… balls.”

Identified

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.

MYSTERY 03Solved ✓

“Found this in a cupboard at an old farm and have no clue what it is.”

Identified

It’s an old device for making mayonnaise.

MYSTERY 04Solved ✓

“Some kind of metal cage with a clamping action when you pull the handle.”

Identified

It’s a foot-operated potato planter.

MYSTERY 05Solved ✓

“Received as a gift from my father-in-law, but I have no idea what it is used for.”

Identified

“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.”

MYSTERY 06Solved ✓

“Found it on the street — it’s filled with little metal balls.”

Identified

It’s a counterweight for an old adjustable-height chandelier or ceiling lamp.

MYSTERY 07Solved ✓

“Suddenly found it in my house one day. It’s metal and relatively flexible, but it feels like it would break at some point.”

Identified

It’s “boning” from a corset.

MYSTERY 08Solved ✓

“The part above the handle rotates…”

Identified

It’s a kite spindle — likely a reproduction of the ones used from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s.

MYSTERY 09Solved ✓

“They’re about 2 feet tall, holes go through to the base, and they’re made of clay, I think.”

Identified

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.

MYSTERY 10Solved ✓

“What is this oval metal tool? Found it in a box of sewing and craft supplies.”

Identified

It’s a handle for carrying books. Two straps would pass through the holes on each end and wrap around the stack of books.

MYSTERY 11Solved ✓

“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.”

Identified

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).

MYSTERY 12Solved ✓

“What is this wooden and metal vintage thing?”

Identified

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.

MYSTERY 13Solved ✓

“What’s this clip thing? I’ve found it on a lot of the vintage jewelry I bought online.”

Identified

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.

MYSTERY 14Solved ✓

“What is the use of this fourth piece of cutlery I saw in a German museum?”

Identified

It’s a baby food pusher, quite common in the 1800s through the early 1900s.

MYSTERY 15Solved ✓

“Found this room in an abandoned building. What was it for, and what are these things hanging from the ceiling?”

Identified

It’s a miners’ changing room. The hooks and baskets lift work clothes up and out of the way for the next shift.

MYSTERY 16Solved ✓

“It had a partial label on it and a picture of a ski jumper. Any clue?”

Identified

It’s a vintage ski wax iron.

MYSTERY 17Solved ✓

“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.”

Identified

It’s a lady’s reticule — a tiny handbag popular in the 19th and early 20th century.

MYSTERY 18Solved ✓

“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.”

Identified

It’s a folding tie rack.

MYSTERY 19Solved ✓

“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.”

Identified

It’s an operating room light with some pieces missing.

The post 19 Mystery Objects That Left the Internet Completely Stumped appeared first on Barnorama.

The post 15 Strange Designs That Somehow Still Made It Into The World appeared first on Barnorama.

The post 24 Funny And Confusing Things People Randomly Stumbled Upon appeared first on Barnorama.

“I’ve Found Interesting Things In Thrifted Suit Pockets Before, But Never $2000 In Cash”

“”I’ll Just Try Them On For Fun” I Told My Husband, That Was A Lie”

“You Guys. Omg. $55 For All 4. I’m Done. I’ve Peaked”

“Thrifted My Wedding Dress For $30”

“Snagged My White Whale From Fbm! It’s Ridiculously Heavy And I Love It So Much!”

“I Found The Cutest Little Guy To Help Keep My Doors Open”

“Some Of The Bugs I Have Thrifted Over The Years”

“I Found A Locked Safe For $15 And It Was Full Of Money, Gold And Silver!”

“Found A Vintage Dooney Big Duck Bag! I Paid More Than I’d Like ($24.49) But Just Couldn’t Leave It. Don’t Know If It’s Real, But Love It All The Same!”

“Suddenly All My Problems Have Gone Away, Got My White Whale For Free Today”

“35 Bucks At Goodwill. I’ve Peaked”

“$18 Linge Roset Ploum High Back Sofa”

“Found A Vintage IKEA Space Mobile In Perfect Condition!”

“My Daughter Found The Love Of Her Life Today”

“We Scored This German Imported 1978 Vw T2 For $4,200 Today Off Fb Marketplace And We Are Stoked”

“I Just Don’t Even Know What To Say… Paid $15”

“I Lost My Mind 3x”

“I Found This Gorgeous 1950’s Party Dress For $1 At An Estate Sale!”

“An Epic Marketplace Find – Like A 90s Nickelodeon Show Fever Dream”

“Stumbled Upon A $500 Gold Slice Of Pizza For $1.99”

“Omg Real Irish Fisherman’s Sweater”

“Found My Wedding Dress For $11.50 At Goodwill”

“These Fabulous Shoes”

“Went In To Thrift Today, Walked Out With A Uranium Unicorn”

The post 24 Unusual Finds In Thrift Shops That Will Blow Your Mind appeared first on Barnorama.

The post 26 Weird Things That Nobody Asked For And Probably Don’t Want appeared first on Barnorama.

“Museum In Japan That Showcases Various Naturally Formed Rocks With Faces On Them”

“A Seaman’s Request For An Extraordinary Leave Of Absence, 1967”

“This Seems Relatively High. This You? If So, Why?”

“The industry started making sound levels abhorrent. The apologists will say that it’s your fault because you don’t have a mega lit sound system, but it’s the same way in movie theaters now. Inaudible dialogue with ear-shattering music and explosions.

“A Man Looking For A Wife In 1865. His Potatoes Were Bully So I’m Sure He Didn’t Have To Look For Long”

“A Black Friday Event I Can Get On Board With”

“Replica Dog Tags Of Every Soldier Who Never Made It Back From Vietnam”

“Museums Are Great”

“A Historic Journey Of Bridges. Devils Bridge Near Aberystwyth, Wales. The Original Medieval Bridge At The Bottom, The 18c Turnpike Road Bridge In The Middle And The Modern 20c Bridge Above”

“Jon From 1997, Clearly One Of The Good Guys”

“C.s. Lewis’ Advice To A Young Girl On How To Become A Better Writer”

“Inside The Walls Of Mont Saint-Michel, France”

“The Size Of This Flag Flown On A Spanish Ship At The Battle Of Trafalgar (1805)”

“The Seiko TV Watch Back In 1982”

“In The Atlantic Ocean Off The Coast Of Iceland Is A Lighthouse At An Altitude Of 40 Meters”

“Kathleen Did Not Light Up A Room”

“These Were Sold During Prohibition Era As Flavour Blocks To Make Juice. The Box Came With Dried Grapes With Fermentation Instructions How “Not” To Make Wine”

“The Grave Of An American Pilot Buried By Imperial Japanese Troops. The Sign Reads “Sleeping Here, A Brave Air-Hero Who Lost Youth And Happiness For His Mother Land. July 25 – Nippon Army”. Kiska, Alaska, 25 August 1943″

“Home Coming- Jimmy Stewart And His Dad Outside The Family Hardware Store, Indiana, Pa., 1945”

“A Little Alpine Refuge That Was Built More Than 2700m Above Sea Level In Italy’s Dolomite Mountains (Mount Cristallo)”

“To All The People That Have Learnt (Or Are Learning) English As A Second Language, I Salute You”

“The Spiral Staircase In Loretto Chapel, Santa Fe, Known As The “Miraculous Staircase,” Built Without A Center Support And Without Nails”

“From A 1909 Dictionary Of Victorian Slang. I Say We Bring Back ‘Got The Morbs’ Into Common Parlance. (When Relevant)”

““First The Man Takes The Drink, Then The Drink Takes The Man.” Made From Bronze, Glass, And Silver Patina By Thomas Lerooy In 2014”

“Storyboards Martin Scorsese Drew When He Was 11-Yrs Old For A Roman Epic: “The Eternal City””

“In A 1977 Edition Of Vogue, This Was Printed As A Sensible Way To Lose 5 Lbs In 3 Days”

“Douglas Adams’ Grave Has A Bouquet Of Pens And A Small Towel Laid Out For Him. I Think He’d Appreciate This”

“That Time In A 1933 Article When Frida Kahlo Was Referred To As Someone’s Wife And Her Art Was “Gleeful Dabbling””

Source

The post 27 Surprising And Unusual Finds That Will Amaze You appeared first on Barnorama.