17 Weird Objects That Would Never Have Been Identified Without The Help Of The Internet

It never ceases to amaze me that people are just living their lives normally, yet somehow still finding weird things that they can't quite seem to identify. Luckily, the kind folks over at the r/whatisthisthing subreddit are happy to help. Here are 17 recent finds from the sub and what they turned out to be:

1.This set of hinged metal claws with a hook inside found at a flea market in Paris:

Ornate metal claw-shaped handle resting on a wooden surface
Ornate metal claw-shaped handle resting on a wooden surface
Metal tongs with decorative bird claw design, resting on a wooden surface
Metal tongs with decorative bird claw design, resting on a wooden surface
A hand holds an ornate metallic ornament shaped like a skeletal claw on a textured surface
A hand holds an ornate metallic ornament shaped like a skeletal claw on a textured surface

u/DirtWesternSpaghetti / Via reddit.com

"Looks like they are pheasant tongs."

u/pinkbrandywinetomato

2.These long, wavy wooden sticks that a previous tenant left in someone's kitchen:

Two curved wooden sticks held in a person's hand, with boxes in the background. The hand has a tattoo

3.This spring-shaped item found at a local thrift store:

<div> <p>"Google Lens answered it in one second. A magazine rack."</p> <p>—<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisthisthing/comments/1hd0n38/comment/m1sf5ae/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:u/dyingPretty;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">u/dyingPretty</a></p> <p>When another user asked why it had rounded ends, <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisthisthing/comments/1hd0n38/comment/m1soxv9/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:u/gnuoyedonig;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">u/gnuoyedonig</a> replied, "Art Deco: <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=74679X1524629&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.buzzfeed.com%2Fkelley_greene%2Finteresting-objects-identified-by-the-internet-12-22-24&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcollections.artsmia.org%2Fart%2F40299%2Fmagazine-rack-james-waring-carpenter&xcust=7799916%7C0%7CRSS%7C56682186&xs=1" data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;elmt:premonetized" rel="sponsored" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:because they could;elm:affiliate_link;elmt:premonetized;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link  rapid-with-clickid etailiffa-link">because they could</a>!"</p> </div><span> u/thelittlegirlblue / Via <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisthisthing/comments/1hd0n38/what_is_this_strange_spiral_contraption/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:reddit.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">reddit.com</a></span>

4.These metal handle-shaped objects attached to the back of the chairs at a Victorian music hall:

A theater aisle with vintage wooden seats and patterned carpet visible

5.This handheld tool with a bone handle and tiny rounded end:

A small metal tool with a pointed end resting on a white paper plate
A small metal tool with a pointed end resting on a white paper plate
Close-up of a small metal tool with a T-shaped tip held over a white paper plate
Close-up of a small metal tool with a T-shaped tip held over a white paper plate
Small metal needlepoint tool held over a white paper plate background
Small metal needlepoint tool held over a white paper plate background

u/daikondon / Via reddit.com

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"Super neat find! This is a ball dental burnisher from the 19th century. Looks the same as these."

u/Then_Self99

6.This tiny metal object with one rounded, looped end and one point:

A hand holds a small metal loop tool with a pointed end, possibly a leatherworking or stitching awl

7.This metal device with a spinning handle found in a scrap yard in Belgium:

Metal antique tool with a lever and spring mechanism on a wooden surface, next to a yellow tape measure
Metal antique tool with a lever and spring mechanism on a wooden surface, next to a yellow tape measure
Close-up of a vintage paper cutter with a rusted metal blade and screws, with a laptop in the background
Close-up of a vintage paper cutter with a rusted metal blade and screws, with a laptop in the background
Close-up of a mechanical device with gears and metal components on a wooden surface
Close-up of a mechanical device with gears and metal components on a wooden surface

u/88GoldenEagle88 / Via reddit.com

"It is a manual paper curling machine, like this one."

u/Vocarion

8.This flat base with wooden handles and metal nails:

Unidentified wooden and metal tool with handles displayed in a store setting

9.This wooden, rusted item found outside someone's apartment complex:

Antique wooden and brass magic lantern with open door, used for projecting images from glass slides
Antique wooden and brass magic lantern with open door, used for projecting images from glass slides
Old wooden camera box with glass plate and metal parts disassembled on concrete surface
Old wooden camera box with glass plate and metal parts disassembled on concrete surface
View inside a vintage metal mailbox with a single letter partially visible in the opening, adding a sense of anticipation or mystery
View inside a vintage metal mailbox with a single letter partially visible in the opening, adding a sense of anticipation or mystery

u/threeclubs / Via reddit.com

"It's an early slide projector or 'magic lantern.'

u/SummerMummer

10.This brooch from 1937 with a spinning dial of numbers:

Bronze metal badge with intricate designs, letters "A5A" and numbers. Appears vintage or antique with circular pattern and star-shaped edge

11.This container of clear liquid enclosed in a wooden container found in an old house in Sweden:

Person holding a piece of wood with
Person holding a piece of wood with
A sealed glass bottle, likely an old message, rests on a wooden block, hinting at historical or mysterious significance
A sealed glass bottle, likely an old message, rests on a wooden block, hinting at historical or mysterious significance
Close-up of a well-used breadboard and rolling pin, lying on a kitchen countertop
Close-up of a well-used breadboard and rolling pin, lying on a kitchen countertop

u/IronLPB / Via reddit.com

"Probably for this; an old Swedish fire extinguisher."

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u/nitro479

12.This clear, bubble-like item with little green bits floating around inside found on the beach in Aruba:

A hand holds a translucent spherical object on a sandy beach with the sea and cloudy sky in the background

13.This watch-like object featuring concentric circles and a leather strap:

Hand holding a vintage wristwatch with a circular slide rule face and a brown leather strap
Hand holding a vintage wristwatch with a circular slide rule face and a brown leather strap
Someone holding an empty watch case with a leather strap, showing its backplate
Someone holding an empty watch case with a leather strap, showing its backplate

u/lubidulia / Via reddit.com

"It’s an ankle pedometer. Similar to this one."

u/Steve_SF

"Looks to me like a mechanical pedometer; you strap it to your ankle, point the arrow in the direction you're going, and the 'cog' on the side is to reset it to zero. The rings give you the distance based on different step lengths.

Here's a similar one. Also, if you gently roll it side to side, you should hear a faint 'clunk' each time - that's the recording mechanism."

u/squirrel_trousers

14.This long brass spoon with a looped handle and drainage holes:

Brass kitchen utensil with a perforated, circular base and decorative handle, held against a plain background

15.This little door connecting someone's kitchen and living room:

A small, empty, and narrow room with wooden flooring, white paneled walls, a small closed hatch, and an open doorway leading to a stairwell
A small, empty, and narrow room with wooden flooring, white paneled walls, a small closed hatch, and an open doorway leading to a stairwell
A small alcove shelf with a round object, next to a stairway and wooden floor; boxes are on the floor nearby
A small alcove shelf with a round object, next to a stairway and wooden floor; boxes are on the floor nearby

u/aliceqtpie5 / Via reddit.com

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"You have a telephone nook, and it’s extra special because of the cabinet, which lets you get to the phone from either side."

u/severe_thunderstorm

"Definitely agree! And the little slot at the bottom is for a phone book."

u/Ol_Hickory_Ham_Mike_

16.This little coin-shaped item someone found stuck in their staircase:

A dusty floor with cobwebs and an old, tarnished coin partially embedded in the dirt

17.And finally, this 2.5" tall plastic, magnetic sculpture of a woman found in a vintage shop in Austin, Texas:

Plastic figurine in a mold with a pair of tweezers beside it, likely part of a model kit or craft set
Plastic figurine in a mold with a pair of tweezers beside it, likely part of a model kit or craft set
Small plastic tray, metal tweezers, and a figurine of a nude woman lie on a table with lined paper
Small plastic tray, metal tweezers, and a figurine of a nude woman lie on a table with lined paper

u/drybonespwns / Via reddit.com

"The Blonde in the bathtub."

u/baconslim

"It's a gimmick where the girl will pop out of the bathtub easily when you use the tweezers, but when you have someone else do it, they can't. I don't know exactly how it works, but I'm guessing the polarity change has something to do with the tweezers."

u/pekingeseeyes

If you enjoyed looking at all these interesting objects, check out some other items identified by the internet here:

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18 Odd Objects People Never Would Have Been Able To Identify If The Internet Hadn't Come To The Rescue

These 14 Mysterious Things Never Would Have Been Identified If The Internet Hadn't Come To The Rescue

16 Things People Found And Never Would Have Been Able To Identify Without The Help Of The Internet

Note: Some responses have been edited for length and clarity.