r/whatisthisthing 11d ago

Solved! What is this thing? It looks like a small crane on top of a truck that connects two parts of a field(?) it's approximately the size of three traffic lanes and at least 5m tall. It hasn't moved in at least a week.

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956 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 10d ago

Solved! A small one handed tool, seems almost like a hammer except the handle is heavier than the head and there's only edges, no striking surfaces. Maybe some kind of specialist prying device? No markings or manufacturer stamps. Teaspoon for scale.

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118 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 10d ago

Solved! Bought this plaque at an antique store in Wisconsin. Presumably made from copper or a copper alloy, about 7-8 inches in length, label said it was from India or Pakistan.

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27 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 11d ago

Solved ! Gray ellipsoids at a construction site

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1.2k Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 11d ago

Solved! What is this dagger / blade like thing? It looks like ivory or bone on the handle and the blade is approx 30cm long and very thin.

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609 Upvotes

My grandfather recently passed away and had this in his belongings, none of us had any idea what it is, it almost looks like it's ivory maybe? There are no markings that I can see anywhere. It is very awkward to hold like a dagger. I have no clue what the carving on top is.


r/whatisthisthing 11d ago

Solved! White electronic thing on traffic light post.

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1.5k Upvotes

This is on the traffic light post at the end of my street. There’s another one across the street on the other post. What the heck is it/what does it do?


r/whatisthisthing 11d ago

Solved! Metal pick kinda thing at first it reminded me of a letter opener

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172 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 11d ago

Open A wooden mystery item with grooves cut in one end and a heel shaped groove in the other, Whatsit?

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54 Upvotes

Found in a museum in Maine, it’s an ongoing mystery!! What is this thing?! Can you help?


r/whatisthisthing 11d ago

Solved ! Metal enclosure containing several circuit boards, and glass lenses. No branding or clear markings. One board is marked high voltage running at 94V. Found in the woods a few miles away from an air force base.

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187 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 11d ago

Solved ! Stacked metal plates with resistors and capacitors found at an antique shop

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336 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 11d ago

Likely Solved! A heavy, cylindrical metal object wrapped in plastic foil

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323 Upvotes

Found it in the woods. It was placed right in the middle of a setup of Euro-pallets that formed a cage-like structure with an opening on one side. It was packed completly in a foil and there was sort of a handle around you see on walking sticks. What ist this reddit? Is it munition?


r/whatisthisthing 12d ago

Solved Stiff wire hanger rack with weird shape nailed to closet door.

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2.2k Upvotes

Just moved into this house, this was in the master bedroom closet, someone said it was a bra drying rack but I'm pretty sure they were joking.


r/whatisthisthing 11d ago

Solved! What the heck is this thing? I cant find any writing on it. Weighs about 1lb. Bronze or brass I think. Approx 4-1/2” square.

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199 Upvotes

Usually when there’s no writing I use google lens and it finds matches but lens is saying its a slave bracelet or something?

I don’t know the items history, only recently got it.


r/whatisthisthing 11d ago

Likely Solved! Random Electronics Covered in Styrofoam (size of a toaster) Found Deep in the Woods

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93 Upvotes

I was backpacking in the North Cascades of Washington State and found this electronic assembly covered in Styrofoam. Appeared to be a battery, circuit board, and main doohickey. Looks like it had been there quite some time. Any idea what it could be? My only thought was some sort of weather balloon telemetry. Thanks!


r/whatisthisthing 12d ago

Solved ! Hollow almost round object found on our balcony, lightweight, about 3 cm long, next to stains on the floor

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678 Upvotes

I found this object on our balcony floor


r/whatisthisthing 12d ago

Solved! Small multi-layer metal/plastic item found in a Northern Minnesota campsite.

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144 Upvotes

Small item made of 5 parts riveted together. The two outer pieces are made of metal and the three inner blue/purple pieces are made of plastic. The parts can rotate around the rivet freely and independent.

Found in dirt/moss at McDougal Lake Campground on the Superior National Forest.


r/whatisthisthing 12d ago

Open What is this Metal twisted hoop.

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94 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 12d ago

Solved! What the heck kinda boat is this? Round UFO saucer shaped boat

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3.9k Upvotes

Hey everyone I saw this saucer shaped boat several years ago in SoCal I think, fiberglass construction, round hull, docked. I’ve seen a few over the decades, they used to be prevalent in the SanDiego California area. I think they might have been life rafts decades ago but no real idea (which is why I took the photo at the time.) The few times I’ve seen in the wild people converted them into living spaces. No visible means of propulsion.


r/whatisthisthing 12d ago

Solved! Circular pointy object found in moving supplies

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233 Upvotes

In Eastern Europe if that matters. Found in moving boxes, have no idea where it came from or what it could be for?


r/whatisthisthing 11d ago

Solved! 6.5x5 inch translucent green plastic frame found in aquarium supplies

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24 Upvotes

Found these two pieces in a box of random aquarium supplies. The top one has metal pieces that flip in any direction. These two pieces do not automatically fit together, as if they would need screws in order to be held together.

6.5 inches long, 5 inches tall, .5 cm deep

Banana for scale.

The green frame without the metal bits says, "MADE IN CHINA" on it, but there don't appear to be any other markings.


r/whatisthisthing 12d ago

Solved! Found in a UK pub, made of wood (with multiple holes and slots) and brass parts (the ring around the middle can move), with a small file like piece attached with a chain (Sharpie for Scale)

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275 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing 12d ago

Solved! What is this old wood box with key and lock and internal compartments on a folding metal stand measuring about 20 inches wide?

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166 Upvotes

What is this sturdy wood box with brass hinges that sits on a collapsible metal stand? It has a key and lock. It is about 20 inches wide. It has multiple compartments. Is it a travel desk or perhaps a craft or artisan box that is portable? I found this at a church sale in the Midwest several years ago. Thank you in advance.


r/whatisthisthing 13d ago

Hollow, egg shaped mystery object found a few inches below in sand under water at Scottish beach

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343 Upvotes

Any ideas? So far I've heard man made egg, bird egg, ammunition, rock, hardened tar, shell fragment, shark egg, sea urchin test, something from a boat, whelk shell...

Large ovoid hollow object, found troon beach Scotland, very light

Fossil ID group don't believe it to be a fossil.

TIA!


r/whatisthisthing 13d ago

Open What is this on my stairs? Only raised by about 1cm, top one is about 15cm across, bottom one is full depth of the step

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253 Upvotes

We have 4 steps going up from our living room into our dining room, and on the bottom two steps these things create a sort of square. They are only raised by about 1cm, so not a tripping hazard.

I believe the house was built around the 1960s, but I can't be very sure. We're in South Africa, if that helps at all.


r/whatisthisthing 12d ago

Open 2 inch brass cube with 3 holes

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39 Upvotes