/r/whatisthisthing
For the identification of mysterious objects
A place to find out what that odd-looking thing that you stumbled across actually is.
Guidelines
GOOGLE your item's description and keywords and do an image search BEFORE POSTING HERE.
Then check FREQUENTLY ASKED THINGS. You may not be aware you have a common item.
THEN READ THIS GUIDE on what to include in your post before posting.
Also, check out our WIKI.
Rules apply to ALL comments, not just top level replies.
Be civil. Being otherwise will get you banned. Reddiquette
Be helpful / No Jokes Jokes and other unhelpful comments, even after the item has been identified, are bannable offenses, even on first offense. If your comment doesn't help, don't comment.
Try to include a link to a source of some sort when posting an answer. Everyone's got an opinion, facts help.
When what you're looking for is found, reply "Solved!" to the earliest comment with the answer.
DO NOT DELETE YOUR POST after an attempt has been made to answer, or if you intend to repost to get visibility. This will result in at least a temporary ban.
Be detailed with your post title as well as the information therein, in order to help those trying to help you. This will help to eliminate vague posts.
Do not use URL shorteners or affiliate links in the body of posts or replies ( anything with lots of parameters after a '?') - they will be automatically removed.
Check the F.A.T. Check the Frequently Asked Things before posting.
Posts must adhere to submission guidelines All posts must adhere to the submission guidelines.
New Open Cases View Solved CasesGallery View
NOTE: To mark your submissions solved reply "Solved!" Click here for more info.
Other Helpful Subreddits
Your submission is likely to be removed if it better fits one of these:
/r/HelpMeFind if you know what it is and want to find where you can get one or find more information on it
/r/tipofmytongue if you know of a movie, game, song, etc. - but cannot recall the name.
/r/translator for translation of writing
/r/AskDocs for health/medical related things
/r/AskVet for animal health/medical related things
/r/whatsthisbug for weird bug identification (& nests/eggs)
/r/whatsthisbird for bird identification
/r/whatsthisplant for plant identification
/r/whatsthisrock for rock identification (or, dammit Marie, minerals!)
/r/whatisthispainting for paintings, artists signatures
/r/whatsthisworth if you know what it is, and want to find out what it's worth
/r/whereisthis if you have a picture of a location but don't know where it is
/r/whatisthisthing
2,694,124 Subscribers
Small metal basket with mesh bottom, almost 2 inches in diameter
What is this thing? Found with kitchen stuff
01:47 UTC
What is this thing? found on the beach in SC. its size is very small (roughly the size of penny)
01:27 UTC
Some sort of key? Found in my kitchen. Pencil for size reference.
Found this in my kitchen and no idea where it came from. Pencil for size reference. It’s like a keychain in a baggie but seems to be a key of sorts?
01:03 UTC
Boxy grey detectors at UK airports customs exit points
My title describes the thing. Boxy grey detectors at UK airports customs exit points.
Every time I go through them I wonder what they are built to detect. Tried to look online but haven’t yet found an answer. Does anyone know?
17:56 UTC
Green plastic octagonal cltube with tapered ends, something metallic in the holes at either side
16:22 UTC
Long, thin segmented rectangular boxes flanking the stage at a large theater, positioned on either side of the stage, pointed towards the audience.
14:29 UTC
A concrete Black & White marker on the pavement. Gas & Water companies don't know & can't open the lock with their keys. UK estate built 1970s
12:28 UTC
A small, three-part, mostly plastic electronic device with wires, partially taped together
This was fairly small, the white part was about the size of a mini bic lighter and the red, silver, and black thing taped to it was just a bit wider and shorter than a AA battery. Those two parts are connected to the oval orange bit by two wires. The orange bit is not flat, it has some dimension to it. I did not pick it up so I don't know how much it weighed or what any of this looked like from the other side.
The white bit and battery-looking thing are taped together with a clear yellowish tape and the black end of the battery thing looks like it had popped open maybe.
The orange part had writing on it that was very hard to make out, possibly "UK CR" on the end closest to the bottom of the picture. The white part looks like it could have held something inside of it, maybe liquid?
It was not making any sounds and did not appear to have any lights on it. Nothing else was near by either, such as a case for it.
01:03 UTC
Pink 3”x2” under 8 ounces cylinder cone top metal object with enamel coating slit cut into side. Nothing moves or is able to be removed. No writing anywhere.
19:57 UTC
Puck-like object in Cruise ship bathroom. White, with no writing anywhere, just the circle pattern in the plastic. Doesn't make any sounds or have any indicator lights.
17:45 UTC
A 5-10cm (2-4 inches) bronze object found in Greece.
My title describes the thing.
It is a 5-10cm (2-4 inches) long object which was found on a Greece island about 35 years ago. The object is entirely made out of bronze.
09:59 UTC
What is this thumbnail sized, dense, ferrous, button cell battery resembling (but not!) thing?
Found in my wife’s 2019 Mazda CX-5 on the floor. It’s weighty like a magnet. It is NOT a battery due to both sides looking exactly the same with no distinction between positive or negative or any writing for that matter.
03:24 UTC
What is this metal rod with unusual properties? More info in comments.
00:43 UTC
2 ft wide white plastic tub with clear plastic top, mounted orange rubber gloves on the side for handling what's inside, and a grey vacuum-cleaner-like hose stored inside the tub
23:54 UTC
Strange suspended compartment with a spike, on the side of a mountain at a ski resort. it looks like theres a ladder up to the compartment. sorry for the mist
21:53 UTC
Big round metal construction on concrete poles with golden fabric (foil?) in circles on a farmers field
spotted on a train ride in Germany.
20:30 UTC