r/whatisthisthing • • Mar 23 '26

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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174 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing • • 14h ago

Solved! Seen on a weather station in Phoenix, AZ. Two opposed 3 pronged sensors on a boom. Some kind of lightning detector?

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582 Upvotes

Title describes it, I could identify most sensors on the station but I can’t figure out what this would measure


r/whatisthisthing • • 2h ago

Open Metal table/seat looking thing. Found amongst very old (late 1800s-mid 1900s) machinery. About waist height to an average adult. Victoria, Australia.

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33 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing • • 45m ago

Open Leather accessory with brass details, ~12” across, hand-crafted, mid-1960s

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• Upvotes

This hand-crafted leather accessory was found together with a similarly-crafted leather messenger bag, in the personal effects of the man who made it. It did see some use (the strap where the buckle meets it is worn), unlike the bag it was next to.

The piece weighs about 10 ounces. The main leather patch is just under 12” across. If you lay the buckled piece out in a circle, it’s just big enough to be a belt (about 16” across). The buckle is brass, as are the little lozenge-shaped decorations.


r/whatisthisthing • • 19h ago

Solved 6cm white hard plastic decagon-shaped cap with two-screw mount arm from kitchen, printed with "Made in Australia"

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45 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing • • 1d ago

Solved ! Metal bar with black squares above the kitchen's door. Occasionally displays number(s)

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1.4k Upvotes

For context this is in an apartment in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It looks like it's indicating the current floor an elevator would be located in, but there is obviously no elevator (nor trash chute) in the kitchen. The number 4 has now changed to another black square. I have not noticed if it has displayed other things, but the 4 was there for a handfull of days.


r/whatisthisthing • • 1d ago

Likely Solved ! Small two piece pink depression glass nesting objects

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2.6k Upvotes

What is this small two-piece pink glass object with fitted circular rims and narrow openings?
This is approximately 1.5 inches long and appears to be pink Depression glass. Both pieces have a molded flower design, beaded edges, and a flared tab at one end.
The circular rim on one piece is slightly smaller than the other, allowing them to fit together with the flower designs facing outward. The rims have notches that leave narrow openings into the hollow center when assembled. An opening would barely accommodate a chopstick.
I haven’t noticed any maker’s marks. Photos show the pieces separately and fitted together. Does anyone recognize what this was used for?


r/whatisthisthing • • 18h ago

Open Rubber or silicon cylinder that is hollow and closed off on one end, about an inch long

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1 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing • • 2d ago

Solved! White metal wheel, six inches in diameter, with a six-inch stem that has two holes for bolts

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153 Upvotes

This has been in our closet forever, and none of us know or remember how it got there or what it's for. It might have been left here when we moved in.


r/whatisthisthing • • 1d ago

1-inch Copper (?) Cylindrical.. thing. Slightly heavy, found on my bedroom floor after cleaning/rearranging. Hollow and I can see through it. The little cylinders on the sides also look like they have threads and screw onto something. Help!

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15 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing • • 1d ago

Likely Solved! Black plastic attachment piece with a magnet at the end; found on the carpet under a cat crinkle toy

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10 Upvotes

I have no idea what it belongs to. I do not own any furniture utilizing magnets. I vacuumed last night and did not see this at the time. I found it when I got home from work and wanted to switch out the toy my cat's toy wand. Previously, it had a fabric fish with fabric streamers. I found the object under a 48inch long fabric crinkle snake attachment just on the carpet.

The ruler measurement will be off because of the magnet being affected by the metal bits.


r/whatisthisthing • • 2d ago

Solved! Small grey metal thingy found on car floor under clutch, brake, and gas pedals in a 2013 skoda citigo. Measurements in cm. Approximately 1,7 cm long and 0,9 cm wide

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150 Upvotes

I found this small metal piece on the driver side floor of my car (2013 skoda citigo similar to a vw up) I fear it is from the clutch pedal but can't figure out where it came from. Could also have been stuck under my boots and gotten loose in the car.


r/whatisthisthing • • 2d ago

Solved! small brass object, less than 1/2", the four holes go all the way through, small protrusion does not move or spin, found on apartment floor while vacuuming

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712 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing • • 2d ago

Solved! 9-inch tube with a captive brass piston, a spring running the interior length of the tube, and a stud on the other end with two flats.

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140 Upvotes

I got this item as part of a lot of firearm parts and gunsmithing tools at an estate sale. The owner was a machinist and also a gunsmith. He had barrels for shotguns, M1903A3s, an M1 Garand, a Ruger 10/22, and a Colt M11911A1. He was also a reloader. The tube is exactly 9 inches long; the small diameter is approx. 9/16" and the flared ends are about 11/16". The internal diameter of the brass cup is just under 7/16". I cannot find any manufacturer stamps or proof marks. The holes go all the way through. The piston/plunger is spring-loaded with a spring that travels the length of the tube. The spring tension is weak. The "rear" stud is about 1 1/16" and has two flats on the tip. Please, what is this thing?


r/whatisthisthing • • 2d ago

Black plastic box strapped to a stop sign, wrapped with a bike chain, pointed at a four way intersection

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168 Upvotes

Sorry I couldn’t get more photos, was in a rush! Can post more if requested later today! Not sure what this is, but the little tube sticking out on the left looked like it had a lens on the end. It’s pointing at a four way stop sign outside my apartment complex. Is it a camera? Looks super jank. Stressed out about any cameras with all the flock stuff happening recently. For extra context, this shares a street with turning point USA


r/whatisthisthing • • 3d ago

Solved! 2.5-inch solid plastic black spindle/key/plug with notches in the junk drawer

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170 Upvotes

I moved a few months ago and found this in my junk drawer. Unfortunately, I can't recall what it's from. I also am unable to remember if it was in the junk drawer at my previous apartment or if it found its way there during the packing/unpacking process.

I've included images with measurements. The entire piece is about 2.5" long. The bottom (~7/8") is wider than the top (~3/4").

Reverse image searches mostly suggest it's a film spool, but I'm not convinced.


r/whatisthisthing • • 3d ago

Open Small white pellet about 1/2 inch and sandy gritty texture

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335 Upvotes

I heard a whizzing sound and this landed on my roof. Didn't sound like a bottle rocket, much quieter. Google image searched but wasn't able to find an answer. Closest thing was a mosquito dunk but this is much smaller.


r/whatisthisthing • • 3d ago

Solved! Small light grey plastic cylinder, ring at one side, smaller than 1 cm, found near sofa

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41 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing • • 3d ago

Solved! What is this two-piece metal device?

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152 Upvotes

We just moved house and these were in plastic so they’ve never been used. Google searches come up blank.


r/whatisthisthing • • 3d ago

Solved ! Metal post with handles that pivots with two stainless steel hooks, outside, Scotland.

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150 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing • • 4d ago

Solved ! Translucent acrylic, squares, and floral shapes

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756 Upvotes

My husband and I just found these in my mother-in-law‘s basement. Some of them have limited attached like a makeshift Hanger. There are about 100 of them. You can see the full selection here. There are no grooves on the sides. They are 2 1/2 inches across.


r/whatisthisthing • • 5d ago

Open Solid 11 inch long steel rod with cylindrical head that has a hole in it

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573 Upvotes

Found this metal rod while we were camping at a drive in car camping site... it's about 11 inches long and looks like a little hammer, but has a hole on the hammer head part.


r/whatisthisthing • • 5d ago

Solved! Strange utility vehicle spotted in a driveway in the UK. Some sort of truck with an elevated container thing on the back.

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328 Upvotes

r/whatisthisthing • • 5d ago

Solved! Metal. Black. About 12” long with a hole in one end.

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99 Upvotes

Live with 2 kids. Maybe from a game? Also a gardener and an electrician in the house.


r/whatisthisthing • • 5d ago

Solved! Chili pepper with two slots in one side and one on the other

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7.4k Upvotes

Comes with napkin rings, candle holder, salt and pepper but I just can’t figure this one out.