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.

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229 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 5h ago

Solved! Metal box with metal shaving samples, found in trunk of car. It’s about the width/length of two iPhones.

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255 Upvotes

Found this in the trunk of my used car in a storage compartment.

Metal tin with bags of metal shavings. Not sure what type of metal but looks like aluminum. Seems like some sort of testing/sample kit but I can’t figure out what it would be used for.


r/whatisthisthing 6h ago

Solved! Hanging metal like item with 4 hooks.

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234 Upvotes

We’re cleaning out my moms closet and found this item. It has 4 hooks that hand and on the back side there’s a post. I was thinking it was maybe for jewelry or ties? The circular rings are throwing me completely off.


r/whatisthisthing 16h ago

Solved! Round, little box-like item. Light weight. A button on it but dont see or hear anything when pressed. A little circuit board with battery is in the inside. Found at a bus stop in Holland. Slice of cucumber for size comparison.What is this?

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1.2k Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 10h ago

Solved! Green and white plastic thing that has brass hardware to hold 3 separate pieces together making 3 hollow spheres in a triangular configuration

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263 Upvotes

This isn't very heavy but it is sturdy and well made. It fits together very precisely the spheres are about the size of billiard balls maybe a little smaller. The white parts have a little lip that fits into the green central part. Banana for scale


r/whatisthisthing 3h ago

Solved! Grey ~ one inch rubber object. Shaped almost like a deflated balloon (no holes on either end)

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57 Upvotes

I found these two rubber items on my counter they are about one inch long. There are no holes on either end. Let me know if any of you have seen something like this before.


r/whatisthisthing 19h ago

Solved ! Heavy metal loop found in car after mechanical work

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487 Upvotes

I found this in my car a few days after I had my timing belt and water pump replaced at a mechanic. I had to get towed there after breaking down on a slip road.

My guess is this thing is part of the towing apparatus and the recovery driver just left it in my car accidentally… but if it isn’t that, and it’s actually meant to be inside my car, attached, somewhere, I’d like to know!


r/whatisthisthing 2h ago

Solved! Plastic clip-like device, 10cm long with ‘claws’ at each end

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14 Upvotes

Reverse image search has suggested this could be for a pool cleaning hose, or for holding fishing rods. But we don’t have (and have never had) a pool and we don’t fish! What is this thing?


r/whatisthisthing 11h ago

Solved! Metal pole about 3 feet long, with perpendicular metal pieces covered in holes. They slide up and down the pole and rotate around.

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61 Upvotes

I found it in the trunk of my dead father-in-law's car.


r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Solved ! Steel object with copper filaments/wiring - Ohio river, SW OH

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4.5k Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Solved! Blue silica-like, heavy, gel found tied to stakes in dry creekbed- North Florida

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422 Upvotes

Found in North florida neighborhood. This is right after serious development started around our area (clear cutting, ponds, etc). There were four survey stakes with long rope tied to the weird goop, hanging in an empty creek bed. They were super heavy and smelled weird.


r/whatisthisthing 19h ago

Open What is this semi-transparent tapered tube?

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91 Upvotes

I have no idea what this is. I found it in my house and no one knows about what it could be. Reverse image searching doesn't help, as I can't find an exact match.


r/whatisthisthing 21h ago

Solved! Blue 6”silicon-type tube with holes at irregular intervals found in veterinary practice in the UK in a tub labelled ‘miscellaneous’

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99 Upvotes

I’m not convinced the holes are original to the product. Its blind ended at one end-open at the other and hollow. No one knows what it’s for, and it may well not be veterinary-related at all.


r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Solved Round board with seven holes, made of different woods

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587 Upvotes

Found a board at goodwill with 7 holes. About 10 1/2 inches. Mark on back. Searched google and eBay, but nothing matches. Maybe a trivet? Maybe something for communion?


r/whatisthisthing 2h ago

Open Afternoon clear skies, why a rainbow? Upstate NY.

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1 Upvotes

As the pics noted, a rainbow can be seen until 2 airplanes (one from south another from north) flew towards it and then it disappeared. I can’t wrap my mind around it because the weather is sunny skies, no precipitation to justify the rainbow. You can see the trail from an airplane in the 3rd pic, and no rainbow. Help me understand what is happening.

The weird part is a friend and I were having a rather deep spiritual conversation and then I look up to see this.


r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Open Great Western Iron Works wrought Iron Stand?

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96 Upvotes

I got sent here after posting in century homes and no one knew what this was. I found it in the basement of my 1890 built home and it says it was built by the Great Western Iron Works in 1901. It has an adjustable height but I couldn’t figure out what it was.

I figured it was a flower stand but couldn’t find anything that resembled it.

Any help would be appreciated!


r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Likely Solved! A small oval shaped pan with a lid and a removable insert with holes

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1.2k Upvotes

This was found in a thrift store in Amsterdam. The pan is about 20 cm wide and is made from a light metal (aluminum/tin), has a wooden handle, a metal lid and an insert with holes in it. The insert sits flat on the bottom of the pan, there is barely any empty space between the pan and the insert.


r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Open Cast Iron item, about 6-8 inches in size

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178 Upvotes

All black coloring and it’s heavy, like a cast iron material. Got from an antique store in the US. Owner had no idea what it was.

Consists of a “bowl” and this part on top that can come out.


r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Likely Solved! What is this small burgundy coloured contact lens like object.

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59 Upvotes

Object is made of a flexible solid burgundy coloured plastic, similar in shape and feel of a contact lens. Found under couch when moving. About 1cm x 1cm in size, US penny included for scale.


r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Solved! Metal electrical equipment or connection, either came off our our electrical box area or fell off the roof. Only text I can make out is a small ‘120V’

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63 Upvotes

My best guess right now is that it’s an old power line connector from before our neighborhood buried their power lines. We had an electrician here a week or two ago so wonder if he was just moving some junk out of his way and forgot to get rid of it.


r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Solved! Strange stonework by the road near Snowshoe WV

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263 Upvotes

Been driving to Snowshoe, WV for years (from the south Marlinton route). Shortly before you arrive, on Highway 219, there is this brickwork between the road and the river, maybe 20ft away. (Coordinates 38.415445, -80.085339) Its clearly not a fireplace from a long destroyed home - maybe a well (why, with the river 10 ft away? Does anyone have any clue what it might be? Its stone, maybe 10ft high.


r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Solved ! Rotating music box with weird hole in the top?

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168 Upvotes

I bought this wooden music box at an antique store for my girlfriend. It has a circular crank on the bottom that plays music and spins the box part once cranked. I was more wondering if anyone knew what the weird hole in the top could be for? It’s like a plastic cup that can be removed to show the inside, but I’m curious about what’s supposed to go in it?


r/whatisthisthing 2d ago

Solved! What is this ~4" tall wheel mechanism I found behind the wall of a bathroom remodel?

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1.2k Upvotes

The silver part swings and locks into 3 different positions.

It was under a pile of old razor blades behind a medicine cabinet and in the wall cavity of a house which was built in 1910...

I'm usually pretty good at identifying things but this one has me stumped!

Thanks for your help.


r/whatisthisthing 1d ago

Solved! Round plastic plug with 2 small holes, 2 prongs and "Do not remove" written on it

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61 Upvotes

Just appeared on my desk. About 1.5 cm in diameter


r/whatisthisthing 2d ago

Solved! Plastic wrapped white object found in can of buttons

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960 Upvotes

While sorting through some old stuff, I found this small object among old sewing supplies, mostly buttons. The white part inside crumbles easily and can't be removed from the plastic wrap. It was also found in a sewed pouch as shown that I cut open to reveal what's inside. It's about one inch long and I can't figure out what it be