Have you ever found something and had no idea what it was? It happens to all of us. Our curiosity pushes us to find answers. In the past, we had to go to libraries or ask experts, but now, the internet gives us quick answers from people who love solving mysteries. Here are some everyday objects people have discovered—and their surprising explanations.
“My mom found this in my dad’s drawer. Should I be worried?”
Answer: It’s actually a spout from a Sunbeam Mixmaster juicer attachment. The juice would flow out through this, and the wire part held a small strainer for pulp.
“What’s this heavy glass object with bubbles inside? It says 1978 on it.”
Answer: It’s a paperweight. People used them to keep papers from flying off desks. Now, they’re mostly used for decoration.
“I found a glass ball inside a metal frame with screws. What is it?”
Answer: It’s a Campbell-Stokes sunshine recorder. A strip of card goes behind the glass sphere, and sunlight burns a track on it, showing how bright the day was.
“What’s this thick wooden stick with a round piece at the end?”
Answer: It’s used with a singing bell. Rubbing the stick around the edge makes the bell vibrate and produce sound.
“I found a three-legged stool with a very narrow back. Any idea what it’s for?”
Answer: It’s a milking stool. Farmers used it to sit while milking cows.
“My grandmother has a glass vase with a metal grid inside. What is it?”
Answer: It’s called a rose bowl. The grid helps arrange flowers neatly.
“I found a leather object about 15 inches long. What could it be?”
Answer: It looks like a decorative tassel from a bag or furniture.
“I found a stainless-steel object with an ‘H’ stamp in an old lab. What is it?”
Answer: It’s a glass tube cutter used in chemistry labs.
“This glass object has narrowing holes all the way through. What is it?”
Answer: It’s a flower frog. It holds flower stems in place inside a vase.
“Why does this empty gold ring have a small hole in the back?”
Answer: The hole prevents air pressure changes from damaging the ring.
“I found a heavy glass object with a tiny hole on top. What is it?”
Answer: It’s an oil candle. The hole is where the wick goes.
“I dug up a ring in my garden. It doesn’t look ordinary. What is it?”
Answer: It’s a mourning ring from the 1800s, worn to remember a lost loved one. The initials on it belonged to the person being honored.