Answer: "I made it, carved from wood. It’s a traditional Kazakh ladle."
Answer: "It’s a tool for polishing drinking glasses."
Answer: "It’s to pick up sugar cubes."
Answer: "It’s a hat stretcher."
Answer: "They are fancy stirrups; devices attached to each side of a horse’s saddle in the form of a loop with a flat base to support the rider’s foot."
Answer: "It’s a cheese holder. Lets you slice cheese without handling the block."
Answer: "They are supposed to be a gag gift. You put the rubber part around your ear, and it looks like you have a cotton swab sticking out of your head."
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."
Answer: "It’s used to feed those who can’t feed themselves, also known as a vintage invalid feeding spoon on eBay."
Answer: "It’s an old-school tub plug."
Answer: "It’s a woodworking knife. But it can be a multipurpose tool for hobbyists, used to cut linoleum or carve clay."
Answer: "They’re called “belly bars” in a lot of places. They’re designed for flower boxes."
Answer: "Hangers. So if you pick up dry cleaning, you can hang the clothing instead of risking wrinkles by laying it on the seat."
Answer: "It’s an asparagus server."
“This little mystery thing is 2” long, made of firm rubber (not stretchy at all), with ribs like on a Caterpillar tractor."
Answer: “I bought a package of cat toys that have something similar. It’s supposed to be infused with catnip. When thrown, they bounce in different directions.”
“What are these curved metal bars attached above the doors of this small barn?”
Answer: “They are to hold the doors flat against the side when they are open.”
“I found this in the flat we are renting in Scotland. It’s like an old M&M, but with a couple’s face on it.”
Answer: “Yes, you can have custom-made M&Ms with stuff like that on it.”
“Velour case with soft gauze padding, and metallic items”
Answer: “Pocket / hand warmer. If it is old, the white part could contain asbestos, but it is more likely fiberglass in this case.”
“What is this glass cone with a rubber/metal stopper in our kitchen in South Africa?”
Answer: “It’s a candy holder.”
“Found in the woods near the water’s edge at my home in Maryland, which was the site of a shipyard from 1750-1800.”
Answer: “It’s a small sword guard. Like this.”
“What is this rectangular piece of cut jade, with a circular indent on the surface?”
Answer: “I think it’s more likely to be a jade ink stone than a worry stone.”
“Would anyone know what the purpose is of this old Mirella ladybug? Yes, I googled, no, it’s not an ashtray.”
Answer: “It’s a tape/stamp dispenser. You lay the roll not inside, but outside the cylinder. There’s even a specific space for it. Then you pull it through the butt slit, and cut it with the ’tail’. And the steel part inside simply holds the roll.”
“What are these things that look like mesh balls of dirt that I found in my backyard? There are lots of them.”
Answer: “Looks like those expandable pucks of dirt for planting seedlings. When you pour water into them, they expand exponentially.”
“Found this at my work, it folds up into itself.”
Answer: “It is a CD holder.”
“Little brass cups that fit inside each other, and latch closed”
Answer: “Antique apothecary scale weight cups.”
“This metal thing I found on a trail”
Answer: “Looks to me like one of those dog poop bag holders. Clip the lead through the hole, then you can use the two ’arms’ to hold a bag full of dog poop.”
“Golf ball sized plastic ball, with holes on each end”
Answer: “It looks like those squishy balls we used to buy at the dollar store as children. Maybe it dried and shrank a bit with time.”
“Weird-shaped thin metal rod with a plastic piece on the end, and with oval padding”
Answer: “This is a push-up bra. I own one. And yes, it works as poorly as you’d expect. And yes, it has horrible plastic bits.”
“Found this at Goodwill. About the size of a pear, hollow, and covered in fur.”
Answer: “It’s a mate cup. Made of a dried out and emptied gourd, and coated in cow’s hair. It’s lacking a metallic tripod that holds it standing.”
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Perfect to drink from...
Not everyone drinks Mate.
I had never heard about it till today, but will try it.
#9 comes this with a candle and syringe?
I kind of wish I had one of these when my Mother was dying over Christmas.
So, kindly, shut your mouth.
#29... and I am none the wiser after that description
Nowadays, people remember other people in a nice Fedora.
Because it's rare.
Had a homeless person ask for mine. I gave him money.