15 Objects from the Past Only a History Expert Would Know About

There is a big love for antiques around the world and there are many people who are always on the search for them. Either they are collectors or they just want to own a few pieces, some of them want to feel connected to their past through them. Of course, some people collect them, restore them and resell them as a business, but some of them just do it as a hobby. Fortunately, these antique items do not disappear and continue to make our world a bit prettier.

1. “Sliding tray with holes on both sides of this sofa.”

• Tray table. It has another piece to it. It’s a tray with matching pegs. Tray goes on top and the pegs slide in. They fit together so the tray sits tightly. Then you take the tray back to the kitchen and put the sliding part back so it’s not in the way. Klutzy_Journalist_36 / Reddit

2. “Found in an old barn: the lid inside holds a mirror, the bag appears to be burlap inside and a different material on the outside, is blue inside and has no smell.”

• The mirror, and style of metal top with fabric bag attached, would suggest it’s a lady’s reticule (a tiny handbag popular in the 19th-early 20th century). BrightBlueBauble / Reddit

3. “I noticed a strange lever on the wall but couldn’t figure out what it does.”

• I decided to push the lever down and the front door opened! It seems that the lazy people of the past were great at creating things! mcleantessa / twitter

4. These are the first electric washing machines.

5. “What is this hatch I’ve seen on the outside of houses in the UK?”

• It’s a boot scraper, for getting the mud off your shoes before going in. togtogtog / Reddit

6. Baby rattles from the past

7. “What is this wooden and metal vintage thing?”

• It is a snooker cue tipper. The cue is placed into the open end to straighten and shape the tip and the file is inserted into the open horizontal slot to make the tip perpendicular. Kinda like a pencil sharpener for a snooker cue. Uh_cakeplease / Reddit

8. “Antique Victorian cast iron fireplace screen from the late 1800s”

9. “Found this beautiful flat copper object in an Airbnb kitchen, what is it used for?”

• It’s the lid to a copper pot. Condor-Avenue / Reddit

10. “Look at this amazing furnace!”

• It’s on a stand on round legs and the carving is along the perimeter, even on the back. The location is also unusual — in the hall. Of course, it could’ve been moved here. maax_sf / Instagram

11. Dozens of metal cones on a roller handle.

• They are the cups for a milk/cream separator. The cups rotate and the milk goes to the side and the cream stays in the center. Biker_Bob / Reddit

12. Have you ever seen glass bricks?

• At the end of the 19th century, Gustave Falconnier from Switzerland invented glass bricks. It’s simple: glass is blown into a mold, the hot air cools down, creates a thin atmosphere, which is why glass bricks have good thermal isolation and sound-proof features. maax_sf / Instagram

13. “Found this in the crawl space of a home. No engraving to give us any hints as to exactly what it is, what it’s used for, and how old it may be.”

• It’s a gas heater (circa 1930s-50s). You’re seeing the side (gas valve) and the back (flue opening — covered). blsmothermon / Reddit

14. This old-looking container was actually a fridge in the ’30s of the 20th century

The first General Electric fridges were presented to the public in 1927. It’s hard to believe that there are some of them that are still functioning.

15. “Found in a box of old junk. About as long as a standard pencil. Spins beautifully on center.”

• Arm for a balance scale maybe. argh-ok / Reddit
• I think this is it. Here is a similar design which also shows why the ends are shaped as they are. kmartshoppr / Reddit

Have you ever encountered such an antique object that you had no clue what it was and what its use was back in the day?