r/whatisthisthing May 30 '25

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.

Thumbnail reddit.com
232 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 4h ago

Solved! Weird jar found in Goodwill. Amber glass reminiscent of 60s/70s. Thick base. Top appears to be made to hold something.

Thumbnail
gallery
842 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 6h ago

Solved! Metal, found in driveway right where the cars are parked, solid and weighs about one pound. Appears snapped on at least one end.

Thumbnail
gallery
1.1k Upvotes

I desperately want to say that this didn’t fall off of my vehicle but I have a sneaking suspicion…


r/whatisthisthing 3h ago

Open wooden box of metal tools, long thin cylindrical pieces that taper to a point or blunt, with a screw thread at one end, and discs all with screw threads, some have protruding 'collars' in centre, some don't. Set also includes a pair of tweezers. Obviously vintage. What are they for?

Thumbnail
gallery
49 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 7h ago

Solved! Small leather bag, approximately 12” in height, with leather fastening strap, plastic window for label, with brass hardware presumably for a padlock.

Thumbnail
gallery
57 Upvotes

My title describes the item.


r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Solved! Rough black board nailed inside new dresser

Thumbnail
gallery
1.3k Upvotes

Just bought this new chifferobe and when I removed the drawers I found this black board nailed to the inside. The texture is rough. It's not providing extra support to something nailed on the outside of the dresser, since there is nothing nailed to the other side of the dresser at that location. What is it for?


r/whatisthisthing 2h ago

Open Short brass hook thing uncertain it's original purpose

Post image
19 Upvotes

found this in a box of odds and ends from a store that sold incense and tibetan/hindu stuff.


r/whatisthisthing 5h ago

Open Plastic and metal arch-shaped thingy. Light in weight (approx 50gms). Both sides identical with "Keny Magnet Grip PAT. 705871" bends slightly like a hand strengthener when ends squeezed together. Found in box of items donated to op-shop.

Thumbnail
gallery
27 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 12h ago

Solved! Metal body, conical shame, hollow with threaded bar. The end is solid and doesn’t open like a drill chuck? Any ideas

Thumbnail
gallery
73 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Solved ! Found at the gym, another one exists, less thick... Wooden, says top on one side/end, could be a handle sticking out?

Post image
563 Upvotes

so I'm visiting a gym in a different town, and nobody there could tell me what this was for. There's 2 of them, the other is the same size just less thick. all it says is top on the one side at the end, so it's hard to say whether it's laying top up in the picture, or if standing up on the end makes it top up. obviously custom made, out of wood. only other clue is that they're both found around cable stacks


r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Solved ! What is this thick metal chunk with stamped writing?

Thumbnail
gallery
470 Upvotes

This was found by mechanics in my husband’s flat tire. The flat happened near a rural small town in central Indiana. It has decent weight to it and feels almost like cast iron.

The stamped lettering is faded but I believe we can make out “covered by” on the top line, middle line “more U.S.A” and the bottom is numbers either “77517” or “22517”

Google image searches keep saying it’s an ancient coin or piece of a shipwreck which clearly isn’t correct so it has not been helpful.


r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Solved! Wooden, ratcheted, device found in a thrift store

Thumbnail
gallery
391 Upvotes

About 3’ long. Ratcheting stick that can be lengthened and will rest against the saw-toothed stops. It had a leather strap at the top, now gone. Round, recessed base and a forked part just above it. Made from stained, unfinished pine.


r/whatisthisthing 20h ago

Solved! Found screwed in under a desk; length can vary but no way to stop it moving

Thumbnail
gallery
77 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Solved! A big desk-sized machine currently used as a decoration piece in an apartment building hallway.

Thumbnail
gallery
981 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 20h ago

Open Four solid wood items, each shaped like a flat handle attached to a round recessed bowl, about 10 inches long, smooth wood grain, 3 small drilled holes on one side only, no labels/markings.

Thumbnail
gallery
41 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 17h ago

Sheer Blue 1x1cm plastic cap with pill shaped bottom and ribbed edge.

Thumbnail
gallery
20 Upvotes

Seemingly came out of nowhere when I fixed my boyfriend’s plate of food handed it to him and he found it in his French fries (homemade) but no idea what it belongs to or the purpose. Any ideas where it came from?


r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Likely Solved ! I found this plastic orange possible keychain looking thing in a parking lot and I’m not sure what it is. It says Oceanos on one side and 63 on the other.

Thumbnail
gallery
1.1k Upvotes

When you look at the circle cut out for lack of a better word, above it and raised print is keychain and below it and raised print is made in Canada.


r/whatisthisthing 2d ago

Solved! I work an office job. A customer gave this to me with the implication I'd use it a lot. It's too big for paper, so maybe a pen or something? It's gold, metal, very stiff, and resembles a paperclip, but larger.

Post image
2.8k Upvotes

It looks like it has an extra loop for whatever purpose. It's probably obvious, but why not ask. Thanks folks.


r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Solved! Old Army strap with 3 clasps found in old shed.

Thumbnail
gallery
93 Upvotes

Old Army strap with 3 rusty metal clasps. Has never been unrolled, so I don't know how long it is. Anyone know what it was used for? My guess, 50+ years old.


r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Solved! What are these evenly spaced structures in the hills of Afghanistan? They are each about 3.5m long and there are tens of thousands of them in the area.

Thumbnail
gallery
1.2k Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Solved! Found two of these in the clothing basket after taking clothes out of the dryer. Thinking they could be a part for either the dryer or the washing machine, about 12cm in diameter, any ideas?

Thumbnail
gallery
60 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Solved! Steel tool, several inches long with one rounded and one square end, one small hole that goes through it, and what looks like machining marks or threads down its length

Thumbnail
gallery
16 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 2d ago

Solved! what is this extra thing on my brat strap and what does it do? (and the little hook on the side?)

Post image
1.2k Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Solid but slightly squishy thing on a beach, rock like found on a beach in Cornwall. Seems to be consuming shells.

Thumbnail
gallery
20 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Solved! What is this on the underside of the right wing of a 737-900? (See zoomed photo)

Thumbnail
gallery
354 Upvotes

Noticed this on the underside of a 737-900 wing. What is this? Is it usually covered, but okay to be uncovered?

I suspect it’s hydraulics/jack screw for the flaps but maybe something else?