16 Items That Would Puzzle Even Sherlock Holmes

As kids, we probably asked the adults around us all sorts of questions. And, to our amazement, they always knew the answers. As adults, we stumble upon interesting things we don’t know the purpose of less often, but figuring it out has become more challenging. Luckily, r/WhatIsThisThing exists, so the brilliant minds of Internet detectives can save the day.

We at Now I’ve Seen Everything found a few interesting items and we’re eager to tell you what they are.

“Found in an elderly woman’s bathroom — 6 pieces stacked and a hole in the bottom...”

Answer: “It’s used for watering house plants.”

“Staying at a rented apartment — why does the vent have a green light inside it?”

Answer: “It’s likely a UV-C sterilization lamp. It kills germs/viruses as they pass by. It also can help prevent mold and whatnot from building up on the coil.”

“They were sent to me from Rome, Italy, unasked. There are 8 of these in 2 different sizes.”

Answer: “These are motorcycle front axle covers.”

“Found in family member’s workshop; appears to be cast steel or iron, hand for scale.”

Answer: “It’s a vintage mailbag hook.”

“Seen built into the counter of a kitchen in a high-end home. What is this item used for?”

Answer: “It’s an electric hot water bath/double boiler.”

“Any ideas what someone left at my house party?”

Answer: “That looks like rat/rodent poison.”

“My mom asked me to ask.”

Answer: “It’s a blade holder for a slap chop or something similar.”

“Anyone know what this is? It’s from Japan.”

Answer: “It’s a sugar dish.”

“What are these flaps on the raincoat for?”

Answer: “The flaps protect the underlying jacket and wick away water, so rain is less likely to soak through the jacket fabric and/or penetrate through zippers and seams.”

“Found this in my grandfather’s house. No clue where to begin.”

Answer: “This is an attachment kit for treadle sewing machines in the late 1800s.”

“What is this metal thing with what seems like a handle at the top?”

Answer: “It looks like a firewood carrier.”

“What is this wooden tool that looks like a juicer?”

Answer: “That’s a rice mold.”

“What is this strange-looking piece of furniture for? It’s about the size of a footstool.”

Answer: “It’s an ergonomic kneeling chair. Knees go on the pad on the right.”

“Object from the ’50s, solid wooden handle, circular metal circle things attached”

Answer: “It’s a bad knife sharpener.”

“A thing my boyfriend got with his new phone case”

Answer: “It’s to wrap up headphones or the charger.”

“Found a strange electronic-looking chip buried within the re-sold wallet. A possible tracking device or just a harmless logo?”

Answer: “It’s a nose cushion from a pair of glasses.”

Have you ever found something with a mysterious purpose? Tell us about your finds in the comment section below!