18 Mystery Objects Demystified Thanks to the Internet

Many of us have wondered about going through the stuff we store in our attic, trying to discover some unfamiliar things there. It’s because these items remind us of the past, its ways, and its customs. The people on our list today were lucky enough to stumble upon some fantastic discoveries, but their purpose remained a mystery. So, they turned to the internet for assistance and uncovered some truly surprising explanations.

1. “This was left at my work. No one knows what it is.”

Answer: This is a fake camel toe. Usually for drag queens, trans women etc.

2. ’’These were mailed to me unannounced. I have no idea what they are. Any help?"

Answer: They go on your key ring, and you use them to open doors or push buttons, so you don’t have to use your fingers.

3. “A weird key — I’m not sure what it goes to.”

Answer: It’s a Yale tubular emergency key for tubular locks.

4. ’’This ring was buried in my garden. After cleaning it, I saw that it doesn’t look like an ordinary ring. Any ideas?’’

Answer: This is heartbreaking. The ring is worn as a mourning ring. It’s a Georgian/early Victorian ring whose initials belong to the lost loved one. They were typically made from gold (18k+) and enameled in black. It looks like yours was made around the 1820s-40s.

5. “An iron cone on either side of a gate outside the entry to a building in Bath, England”

Answer: It’s a snuffer. A visitor to your house would use it to put out their torch.

6. “What is this thing that you always see on an escalator?”

Answer: They help keep shoes, dresses, handbags, etc. from getting snagged in the tiny gap at the side.

7. “What are these metal things on the corners of these stairs, and what is their purpose?”

Answer: They’re corner dust guards. They make it easier to sweep dust out of the corners.

8. “It almost looks like a fridge with a seat in it, and an opening for your head. About 4 or 5 feet tall, I think.”

Answer: It’s a personal sauna.

9. “What is this cleaner used for? It’s found outside the office building.”

Answer: I think it’s for drying wet umbrellas, though the ones I’ve seen usually have the microfiber side facing inward so as to have 2 sides wiping across the surface of the umbrella.

10. “I work in recycling and have found multiple objects like this. It’s made of some kind of silicone. What is this thing?”

Answer: It’s a magnetic bottle holder strap.

11. “I found this on the beach in the UK, I think it’s something boat related?”

Answer: It’s a dock bumper that mounts to the water’s edge and stops boats from getting scraped against the edge of the dock.

12. “A cutting board type thing found in the kitchen section of a thrift store”

Answer: A friend of mine who had a stroke has one of these. It holds the meat while he cuts, since he doesn’t have very good use of his left hand. It is often used by handicapped people.

13. “A small sterling silver ring attached to a hammered bowl”

Answer: It’s a caretaker’s feeding spoon. Looks a bit large for a baby, but would be a good size for helping feed an elderly or bedridden person.

14. “I walked past this many times while in Berlin and still can’t figure out what it is.”

Answer: It’s a clock specifically called Mengenlehreuhr or “set theory clock” in German.

15. “It’s a small, lightweight, glass item. Doesn’t drain from top to bottom, and there are no moving parts.”

Answer: It’s an essential oil diffuser, a tea light goes at the bottom.

16. “A weird bench shelf thing I found near my house.”

Answer: It’s a bench for a mudroom to sit on while putting on one’s shoes. Storage areas are underneath for shoes and larger items.

17. “It’s about 2 feet tall, hollow like a wiffle bat, with a suction on the bottom and a loose rubber sleeve around it.”

Answer: It’s to help put a compression hose on a source, we have one at work.

18. “Looks like a bidet and has a lid with adjustable water temperature. The bowl however is a little wide to sit on.”

Answer: This type of bidet is more common in Europe. Your resort may have installed them if that’s where their clientele is from.

If you’re interested in uncovering more intriguing discoveries and their fascinating purposes, I recommend checking out this article!