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50 Mysterious Vintage Items Whose Functions Are Hard To Guess

Coby Azriel
Okay, this is going to be fun! We're going to play a little game and you should also play along with us. Here's how it goes: we look at a picture of a thing and try to guess what it is. Only after that will we check out what it actually is and explain its function. Sound fun? Great! You can play, too, by guessing before or after you read our guess. Try to see how many you get right! Ready to play? Continue on then share with a friend to see who can get more points!

1. Haunted Warehouse Items

This is the kind of thing you never want to stumble upon. It's creepy and dark and probably haunted. It looks to be either the remains if a makeshift hospital or some sort of flourishing greenhouse that withered away from neglect.
Haunted Warehouse Items
Reddit/kate7195
Haunted, yes. Any of the other things, no. This was a miner's changing room, and the things inside of it were to lift their clothes up and out of the way for the next shift. How inventive!

2. Lobotomy Tool

This tool here seems to be older than we are. It looks like it's straight out of a 1940s horror movie. It almost seems like an icepick-like tool used for lobotomies. Either way, we don't want to know.
Lobotomy Tool
Reddit/CharityJai
Well, we got one word right. It is a type of icepick--the kind that you use to cut ice out from frozen pools of water that occur naturally in the winter. Ice was a hard thing to keep before freezers, so this was a must-have.

3. Army Pill?

While the color seems reminiscent of the military, it could be something totally different. If we were to go with that theme, though, it looks like it holds some sort of secret message or, more morbidly, a cyanide pill.
Army Pill?
Reddit/gunn03
As it so happens, it was a pill. That tiny little cylindrical thing, that is. It was "everlasting" because it was made from antimony and came out the same way it went in. It was used as a means of "cleansing the body". We just wonder how you knew when it came out without digging through your feces.

4. Some Sort Of Strainer

We've actually seen one of these before, but don't know where or what it was used for. It clearly strains something through the mesh, but the gaps are pretty big--too big to be a french press for coffee. Maybe something for tea?
Some Sort Of Strainer
Reddit/enderr2
OOOOkay, now that we know what it is, we can't help but feel a little silly. You might have never thought of this, and that's okay, but it's a homemade mayonnaise container. You whip up the eggs and other ingredients until it becomes that lovely, creamy texture.

5. Antique Ceramic Flask

If it wasn't for the cannon embossed onto the front, you might think this is some sort of ancient vessel of some sort. Vessel it probably is, ancient it is not. It's probably a canteen or some sort of flask.
Antique Ceramic Flask
Reddit/boredmedstudent5
This is indeed "some sort of flask"! It's what's known as a black pwder flask, which explains why theres a cannon on it. If you don't know what black powder is, it's basically another word for gunpowder. We think this counts as a point for us!

6. Medical Device?

Wow, there's honestly no good guess as to what this might be. With so many different components, it could honestly be used for anything.It looks like some sort of medical device. Maybe you fill it up with some sort of liquid?
Medical Device?
Reddit/CaptainFacePunch
Turns out that this one is super simple: it's a type of slingshot. You put the metal balls inside and then pull the balloon thing at the bottom until taut. Then you release and watch it fly!

7. Boat Chair

Well, it's obviously some sort of chair. But with arms like that, it looks like it might belong on a boat. That material though puts a doubt in our minds. Maybe it connects to a similar seat in front of it?
Boat Chair
Reddit/Chwk540
So, it's not even close to what we thought. This is what's called a planter's chair. Planters were meant to use this chair after a long day's work by putting their feet up on the armrests to relax. Because apparently there weren't any footrests.

8. Drinking Horn Made From Glass

A drinking horn is the first thought that comes to mind. Were they ever made out of glass, though? Seems like that would ruin the point of it being a drinking "horn", though. It's probably more modern.
Drinking Horn Made From Glass
Reddit/
So this is for a car. Yep, this is actually a flower vase for your car. In the early 1900s, people actually used to use flowers as a natural air freshener and to make the car look nice. Some people still use them today, and we want one, too!

9. Reverse Stamp

At first glance, it might look like some sort of stamp, but that would have embossed characters, not imprinted ones. It also says Aurora Illinois, so it has to be something relatively modern considering the cities history.
Reverse Stamp
Reddit/crinnaursa
Okay, we're gonna admit a bit of a fault on our side here. We didn't read the post properly and saw that they were actually some sort of tags, not a big hunk of metal. Won't happen again. That being said, these are purported to be locker tags.

10. Metal And Wood Thing

A whistle? A cowbell? Some sort of paperclip? It's hard to tell, but those are some pretty bad guesses right there. It's made from some sort of metal with a thick piece of polished and notched wood.
Metal And Wood Thing
Reddit/Uh_cakeplease
This is actually a pool cue tipper, not any of the above. And by pool, we mean as in billiards. The cue tip was put into one of the open ends to straighten and shape it while the file was meant to make the tip perpendicular.

11. Another Strainer

Well, it obviously holds some sort of liquid, most likely a consumable beverage. It also looks like a French press, but the inner pieces are something of a mystery to us. We wonder what this was used for.
Another Strainer
Reddit/[deleted]
This little thing here is a toy. That's right, a toy. But it does hold water; it is used to wash little things by rotating the crank and churning the water. Most likely used for the clothing of dolls. A vintage toy washing machine sure looks like it's for coffee.

12. Metal Caterpillar

A prototype Slinky. a metal caterpillar. That's the best guess your going to get from us. We can't tell if the metal is linked, or if it's fused, or even both. Darn optical illusions. Even if we knew, there's no telling what this could be.
Metal Caterpillar
Reddit/Smaria783
This is the backbone of a corset: a corset bone. Boning? Unclear how to use the word properly. Corset boning was required to help keep the desired shape of the corset so that it wouldn't sag and wrinkle.

13. Tiny Grabber For Ice Or Sugar

This looks like some sort of fancy lab equipment. Something victorian in design. Although, if we had to make a guess, it's probably a gripper for ice, or more likely, sugar cubes for tea time.
Tiny Grabber For Ice Or Sugar
Reddit/Mironfilms
Well, we should have known it wasn't for ice, considering the size. But we were right! This is a tool used to grab the sugar cubes you need. It sure is a fancy way to prevent sticky fingers.

14. Adult Play-Doh...Bad Guess

Honestly, this looks like something that came out of a Play-Doh set, but...more grown-up. Maybe it's for ground meat of some sort. Or fruit. We don't know, but that's the fun of this game!
Adult Play-Doh...Bad Guess
Reddit/wizardshawn
This is actually a ski wax iron (and a vintage one at that). It's used to apply the wax to skis or snowboards to prevent scratches and create a hydrophobic surface that gives them their glide. How neat!

15. Cheap Event Seating

So, this is attached to the wall, and potentially the ground as well. It looks to be in some sort of abandoned building. It hasn't been used in a while, that's for sure. Looks like a cheap and easy seat for customers or people watching an event.
Cheap Event Seating
Reddit/VersaceRabbit
This one is science at its finest. This is actually located at an Italian castle and the reason for the indents in the stone is actually due to years of rainfall dripping in the exact same spot wearing away the stone.

16. A Spoon.

Well, that's a spoon. No doubt about it, a spoon that is. A really nice looking one at that. What's its main purpose? Serving food. No, in all seriousness, it's a pretty specific-looking spoon with a flat bottom. Gravy, perhaps?
A Spoon.
Reddit/ricecakesandtequila
This deceptively simple thing certainly has a specific purpose, and, unfortunately, we didn't get it this time. This awesome-looking spoon was used for an equally awesome treat: ice cream.

17. Bunker Vents

Out in the middle of nowhere, and being reclaimed by the land around it. They look like exhaust pipes for some sort of underground building. Perhaps some sort of fallout shelter left over from the war?
Bunker Vents
Reddit/KnowLoitering
As it turns out, these really could be an underground bunker vent (+1 point to us!). The other option it could be is leftover chimney tops from a house that was either knocked down or exchanged.

18. Hair Clip

This may look deceiving, but we've got a pretty good guess on this one... it's just got to be an antique hair clip. Before the invention of the tiny wire coil that helps clamp your hairpin closed, there had to be something that keeps your hair tied.
Hair Clip
Reddit/IMNOTDEFENSIVE
Well, it's a clip alright. Though this is actually to hold a dress closed without puncturing the cloth. We don't know why they couldn't use a button, but this is obviously much more classy and pretty.

19. Royal Scepter

If this was several times bigger, we'd say that this is a ruler's scepter. However, it's not and we have to place our bets on some sort of ambiguous tool that we don't actually know anything about, and... okay, we're at a loss on this one.
Royal Scepter
Reddit/dmford1987
So, no, it isn't a royal scepter, but it certainly is a classy piece. What this was used for was to turn your rotary phone's...rotary dial. Alternatively, you can use a pen as some secretaries do in those old movies.

20. Applause Meter

This one is honestly on here for the fun of it. It is exactly what it says on the meter: it's an applause meter! Do you live for the applause? Because whoever made this sure does.
Applause Meter
Reddit/elsworth
This little-known thing was probably used at concerts and other events to measure the...well, the strength of the crowd's applause. It probably didn't really have much meaning to anyone else, but hopefully they scored the "jack pot"!

21. Scraper

Ah, more cutlery. Except that this time it's really unclear what in the world we're looking at. It has to be a scraper of some sort, but what needs scraping? A flame-roasted sweet potato? Seems oddly specific.
Scraper
Reddit/FlyWithTheCars
So, have you ever used one of those utensils? Maybe when you were young. That right there is a food pusher, used to help children push the food onto their fork or spoon in order to get the hang of using normal utensils. Very classy!

22. Pocket Sundial

Oh, we know this one for sure! This is a sundial, an old device used to tell the time with the shadows cast by the sun based on its location in the sky. It doesn't account for daylight savings, but that wasn't a thing anyway.
Pocket Sundial
Reddit/scruffygun211
And as we thought, we were right! This awesome little tool was used before (and if you're cool, during) the advent of the pocket watch. You just needed to know how to use it, which why wouldn't you back then, and have the sun handy. We want one of these awesome things for ourselves!

23. Toast Box?

This... is... some sort of bread device? We only say that because it looks like a toaster, but old toasters were just metal rods you'd put into the fireplace with your toast. This is mostly wood, so not that.
Toast Box?
Reddit/BuyNo8948
This little box is a tinder holding box. As the name suggests, it's to keep your firewood and tinder nice and dry before you have to use them. An interesting shape to say the least, but useful nonetheless.

24. Calculation Device

This one has to be some sort of calculation device, or some sort of timer. Just based on looks alone, it doesn't seem like it ticks, so maybe the former is more accurate.
Calculation Device
Reddit/cov3rman
It is a calculation device! It's called a mechanical calculator (who would have thought) and was made around 1900 in Germany. Its official name is Optima, but that doesn't help us in any way understand how to use it.

25. Salem Witch Stake

This looks like something you might find at the Salem witch trials. Some sort of bunker or burnable thing. Though, thinking about it, being surrounded by dry trees doesn't seem like the right place to burn down a wooden structure.
Salem Witch Stake
Reddit/Mungwich
So we weren't that off, but we said it didn't make any sense. This is a blast wall, which, as it sounds, is something used to protect people or structures from the damaging effect of explosions. Did we get the point? You decide.

26. Telephone?

This is undoubtedly an old telephone base sans the earpiece. Though, in all honesty, we do doubt our guess because of the clear base. That seems like a cool gimmick when you're modernizing something.
Telephone?
Reddit/gs980
So it's not a telephone, but something super cool that you wouldn't think would have to have been a thing. It's a music box (which is actually obvious upon closer inspection) that you use to put people on hold so that they have some entertainment while they wait. Who would have thought this was a thing before it was automatic?

27. Drying Rack

Is this some sort of old dish drying rack? It would make sense. Easy storage, fold-out prongs. but that would be a little too obvious, wouldn't it. We're not all too optimistic about this one.
Drying Rack
Reddit/Salty_Web_6986
Well, it is a rack alright, but this is actually a tie rack, not a rack for dishes. It folds up for easy storage. And that's about it honestly. Not particularly interesting if we're going to be honest.

28. Tea Bag

Teabag. Final answer. It has an opening at the top to put stuff in and the material looks like it can let water through pretty easily. Plus the chain would allow for easy removal. It's all pretty boujee, but that's what you get from a reusable teabag.
Tea Bag
Reddit/sockmarks
So it's a bag, alright, but not the kind of bag you might think. The reason it's so boujee is that it's something like a purse. It was called a lady's reticule and was popular between the 19th-20th centuries.

29. Unknown

It's rusty, so it has to be some sort of outdoorsy tool. Just kidding, if it's old enough oxidation will do its trick. We just have no guesses as to what this is, so we had to say something to meet the rules of the game.
Unknown
Reddit/ryguy303
Hopcentric on Reddit said, "Wow! It looks like a Davis Quadrant or a Backstaff, a navigational instrument that was the predecessor to the sextant". We used his quote because, after reading that, we still don't understand a thing and hope this helps someone out there!

30. Pizza Peel

Giant clothespin? That or a mini version of a pizza peel (that's the name of that big wooden thing that bread makers slide their goods into the oven with). Or maybe it wrings out towels.
Pizza Peel
Reddit/chesterTHEcheese
Well, this one was unexpected. This old tool was actually used in beekeeping. Specificaly, it was used to remove the honey from the honeycomb by squeezing it out of it. Yummy!

31. Torture Scissors

This looks like a cross between a barber's shears and some sort of torture tool. It looks really dangerous, to be honest. It also seems a bit too sharp to be nutcracker, but we're going to go with that anyway.
Torture Scissors
Reddit/KleverKlem
So, it's not a nutcracker. But it is for peeling shells off of things--specifically eggs. You'd use this to remove the shells more easily and not get it all over your hands. Why don't we still use these again?

32.

No, we have no idea what that is. However, with an educated guess, there's a spool of string there, so we're thinking that it's probably going to be a part of a sewing kit and/or sewing machine.
Reddit/DharlesChickens
We don't think we'd ever have guessed what this really is. It would come with straps you'd put through the holes, then you'd buckle in a stack of books and, voila, you have yourself a book-carrying handle!

33. Art Piece

This is a wonderful piece of art! Simple as that. Though, we're probably about to find that it's not so simple after all. We think it fell off of some sort of art piece or decoration. 
Art Piece
Reddit/jjwood84
This is actually a slide to what was called a magic lantern. It was an early type of image projector used for entertainment and later education. They also used to make small ones as toys. No wonder, those things are awesome.

34. Foreign?

This looks like a wooden potato masher, but do those come in wood? If you take a closer look at it, the piece in the center has some Chinese written on it, so it's probably more common in the East.
Foreign?
Reddit/genoihoiose
Well, that's embarrassing. "Probably more common in the East." Just because it looks foreign and has foreign letters on it does not mean you've never heard of this. It's quite elegant for one, but this is most certainly a kite spindle. The thing you hold while flying a kite.

35. Locker, Cooler, Desktop, Oh My!

Okay, what in the world is this?? It looks like a joke, but also too perfectly antique to be a joke. It's some sort of hybrid drink dispenser, school locker, and desktop computer tower, but your guess is as good as ours.
Locker, Cooler, Desktop, Oh My!
Reddit/Vickii_Vallencourt
Okay, so if we bothered to look a little closer, we'd notice the similarities between this and the ones we had in chemistry class. The hole on the front of the spout indicates that it probably releases gas. And that it does. It's a gas heater!

36. Kitchen Appliance

This looks to be another kitchen tool, but with such small appliances, it doesn't seem like it could have a very big use. We think that the wheels turn, but because it's a picture, we have no real way to tell.
Kitchen Appliance
Reddit/MikisWitAttitudes
This little thing is called a fudge wheel, so it does belong in a kitchen. Except that it's actually used for marking stitches in leather and is usually used by cobblers. Peach cobblers? No, the shoe kind of cobbler. Too many food related terms!

37. Pulley Rope Egg

Umm, this one is definitely an interesting one. Egg-shaped, but has a pulley system on top. That hole must be to fill with something. We're guessing this was used to send drinks at a distant.
Pulley Rope Egg
Reddit/dingodize
So, this one happens to be a counterweight for a chandelier. We were right about it being put onto some sort of pulley system, but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. Better luck next time. 

38. Wearable Flask

So this is a necklace, that much is clear. We're thinking it's meant to look a bit like a flask so that it blends in. We think, though, that the main purpose is to house that pin, not to be beautiful.
Wearable Flask
Reddit/bethshurt
No luck here. Although we were correct in saying it's a necklace (duh), it really is, meant to be both beautiful and practical. You would fill it up with a bit of perfume so you can keep yourself smelling fresh and looking beautiful at the same time.

39. Golf Club Tentacles

This is a tiny golf club, complete with tentacles. In other words, it's meant to be used in alien mini-golf. Or Squid mini-golf. Either way, we'd be surprised if it had any real purpose past being ornamental.
Golf Club Tentacles
Reddit/PerceptionOfDoors
Turns out this is actually a reusable cocktail pick. The golf part of it is simply promotional, and the tentacles sprouting out of it help you pick an olive out of a martini without your fingers. Now you can have it stirred, not shake, in style.

40. This Board Game Thing

This is probably some sort of scoring board for an obscure game of some kind. We're not sure what that game could be, but we think it's probably something more vintage in make.
This Board Game Thing
Reddit/BulbasaurGod_20_
Ayy, another point for us! This was a horseracing game based on the probability of a pair of dice being rolled, and also some sort of use of a deck of cards. We weren't about to explain all the rules, but you can feel free!

41. The Bunt Pan

This is a bunt pan, is it not? It's cast iron and has a center similar to those hammers you find in your mom's kitchen. Wait, maybe we're on to something here. Maybe you smash something on it.
The Bunt Pan
Reddit/everytoolisaweapon
Well, you definitely smash things with this, namely nuts. It did come with a hammer that had the same texture (score!) and you would hit the nut in the middle while the pan caught the shell. A bunt pan it is not.

42. The Unwearable Clog

We'd venture to guess this is something to help your shoe from getting misshapen while traveling, but it looks a bit too convoluted for that. It also looks like a torture device, so there's no way anyone wore that.
The Unwearable Clog
Reddit/edmdusty
This one's a funny one, actually. It may look like a clog, but it's really a wine bottle holder! Someone who went to Europe must be having a field day with this one.

43. Craps Table

A game table, maybe? It kind of looks like a craps table from the casino, but much smaller and with a divider in the center, so it's definitely not that. We wonder what it could possibly be used for.
Craps Table
Reddit/Ch00chy
We checked, and it's definitely an old smoking table. The copper insert can be used as an ashtray, or you can take it out and place drinks down. You can also just use it as a table, as there are two little cubbies on either side.

44. Fuzzy Rolling Pin

This little sheep-looking thing has no clear function to it. It also looks like a rolling pin, but there's no way anyone would enjoy having fuzz in their dough. Also, the legs say no to that guess. What could it be?
Fuzzy Rolling Pin
Reddit/----b
Does it count if it really is a rolling pin? The thing with this is it's themed as such, so it technically is one. The reason it's all fuzzy is not to dirty up your dough, but instead to be comfortable for your feet. It's a rolling pin footrest!

45. Weaponized Hair Comb

This looks like a very dangerous boomerang. And if it isn't that, it must be a hair comb, but very regal-looking with those sharp points. We'd be surprised to find that it has a function outside of hair or war. Or both.
Weaponized Hair Comb
Reddit/Danda86
Hurray, it was a hair comb! Another point to us. Specifically, this is called a Miao comb, and most likely originated in Asia. Beautiful, regal, and could probably kill an adult human.

46. Nutcracker?

This is some sort of reverse pliers. It's probably another nutcracker-esque tool. It seems like it's got a tightening cap on it, but that also might be wrong since we literally have no idea what this is.
Nutcracker?
Reddit/shamelot
This is definitely not a nutcracker. And we hope no one ever uses one as such. This thing here is an old-timey version of what the dentist uses to keep your mouth open while he does his work.

47. Gardening...Thing

Here's another thing we have no clue about. But since the rules state we have to place a bet, we're going to say that this is some sort of gardening tool. Yeah, that seems to feel right.
Gardening...Thing
Reddit/StEeZy_SyNtH
Well, well, another one for us. This odd contraption is used to shove potatoes in the ground. That way you can have more potatoes without all the strain of growing potatoes. Doesn't look so easy, though.

48. Alien Orb

This is one of the more alien-looking things on this list. Though it obviously has some lights on it, so maybe it's some sort of dance party apparatus. A strobe light, perhaps?
Alien Orb
Reddit/ed54_3
Well, the light part is correct, but the rest is not. You might have actually seen one of these, but hopefully only on TV or in movies. It's an operating room light with a bunch of missing pieces.

49. Offset Spatula?

Please let this be a kitchen item. Please let this be a kitchen item. After all the bad luck we've had with them, we should probably guess something else, but we think it's for cake frosting.
Offset Spatula?
Reddit/SlappyMasterson
Turns out we were wrong again. This is a tool used to scrape weeds from your lawn. It apparently has its origins in Japan. We still think it would be perfect for evening out cake frosting, though.

50. Lipstick

As much as we don't think it is after all these terrible guesses, we're gonna have to go with lipstick on this one. Though it looks quite metallic, and unnecessarily so, we just don't see anything else.
Lipstick
Reddit/Hades1115
Finally! Gained another point. This is just how they used to look back then, we guess. It was the shape that gave it away. How many did you guess right? Probably more than us. Try to compete against a friend!

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✍ WRITTEN BY

Coby Azriel

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