“Why does this mailbox have letters around it? The building was built in the early 1900s.”
Answer: "It used to be a combination lock. Now retrofitted with a key lock."
“Any idea why this ceramic bowl has a slot?”
Answer: "It looks like an egg separator."
“Signage is found on a streetlight in the Netherlands.”
Answer: "It indicates the location of the pipes underneath the street."
“What are those vertical poles in my gothic 19th-century house stairway for?”
Answer: “To protect the corners of the wall; stuff gets chipped easily and looks worn down.”
“What is this object I found on a beach that has holes in and feels like a mix between stone and plastic?”
Answer: “This is an antique toothbrush from the Victorian era. The handle is crafted from animal bone, and the holes in the brush head are where the bristles would be inserted. Toothbrushes with bristles like this were first invented in the 1400s. However, it wasn’t until the late 1700s and early 1800s that toothbrushes became popular in Europe.”
“What is this rectangle filled with orange jelly goo with an oval metal thing floating in it?”
Answer: "It’s a hand warmer. Flex the disc to activate it. Once it’s been used, you can boil it back to a liquid to re-use it.”
“Antique wooden press or clamp for some purpose?”
Answer: "It’s a beekeeping foundation fastener."
“Can you help me identify this mystery item found in my pub?”
Answer: “It’s a sailmaker’s palm, used by sailors sewing sails together and needing to push the needle through the thick fabric.”
“What is this black rubber thing attached to a bungee-type cord inside my new ski jacket?”
Answer: “It’s a phone holder.”
“4 inches, plastic, pointed on one side. Received as a Xmas gift. What is it?”
Answer: “This is a page spreader for reading. It’s designed to help you keep a book open with one hand while you read. The spreader’s pointed end goes into the book’s spine, and your thumb goes into the hole.”
“I found this small kettle years ago. Tried searching for a similar one, but have always come up with nothing.”
Answer: "In Italy, it is called “la padella.” It is used to pee when you cannot get out of bed."
“What are these smaller doors inside our hotel bathroom door?”
Answer: “Some of our friends in the French countryside have children and pets but no air conditioning. To keep their kids and pets out of or in specific rooms while still being able to hear them, communicate with them, and keep an eye on them, they use ‘Dutch’ doors. These doors are divided horizontally into two parts that can be opened separately, allowing for ventilation while keeping children and pets safe and secure in designated areas.”
“Strange capsules found in a ski area in the Alps, what are these?”
Answer: “These pods are designed to mitigate avalanches. They use a combination of gas and noise to dislodge snow from the mountain, preventing it from accumulating and causing avalanches.”
“A three-legged stool with a very narrow back, does it serve a specific purpose?”
Answer: “Milking stool.”
“Found at a bar. Very heavy, assuming the black handles push it.”
Answer: "Linoleum roller."
“Fully wooden, too short to be a table, too wide to be a bench. Found at a farmers market, what could this thing be?”
Answer: “It’s an Indian elephant seat, also known as howdah, usually placed on top of an elephant to sit on. Howdahs have been used in India for centuries and were often used by royalty and other important people for transportation. They are typically made of wood and are decorated with intricate carvings and designs.”
“Bought a jean jacket, then felt a ball sewn into the lining; found this lightweight, velvety softball that I couldn’t crush in my hand. What IS that?”
Answer: “These fabric sponge balls have a coating to help them slide and grip fabric. They are designed to fit into a tool on the sewing machine table that pushes out corners and shapes when turning the garment right side out. The balls are firm but soft enough not to damage the fabric. However, they can come off easily if pulled too hard.”
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"Tastes like lime" If you don't know what it is WTF are you tasting it for!?!?!
Find some fresh material.
do not critisize izi, it is frowned upon.