5-Minute Crafts
5-Minute Crafts

15+ Things Whose Purpose Puzzled the Entire Internet

Our regular readers will hardly be surprised when they see articles about mysterious and puzzling things. But we’ll still try because we would never be able to guess what at least half of the things in this article are.

At 5-Minute Crafts, we would like to show you a few photos of puzzling things with answers from internet users. And in the bonus section, you’ll see a photo without an answer. Maybe you will be able to solve this mystery.

“What are these metal things on the corners of these stairs and what is their purpose?”

Answer: These are corner dust guards. They make it easier to sweep dust out of the corners.

“What is this thing? A small gold pig container with a removable tiny spoon for a tail”

Answer: It’s a salt cellar.

“Why does this Stop sign look different?”

Answer: These are blinders, typically used so the sign can be read from a narrow angle. They’re also called directional shields. You’ll see them on traffic lights a lot more often.

“I now own these neon rainbow acrylic mystery sticks. Anyone know what I bought?”

Answer: These are multi-color acrylic Mahjong pushers.

“I found this when cleaning my parents basement. It’s made out of wood and the paint is heavily chipped.”

Answer: It’s a phone stand. The vertical cavity is for your city phone book or books. The top is a handle for moving it about.

“This fancy hotel has a shallow tub with 2 sides.”

Answer: You’re supposed to keep your feet in the warm water first and then quickly put them in the cold water (repeat a few times). This is supposed to help with circulation. These tubs are usually used in spas and other wellness or health-related facilities.

“This thing is in the middle of the wall in my 1906 house.”

Answer: It’s a capped off gas line from when they used gas lighting.

“This pumpkin thing opens on a hinge, there is a latch inside with a small glass jar.”

Answer: It is a vinaigrette, a piece of jewelry containing smelling salts or perfume that women hung from a chatelaine chain in Victorian times.

“I found this weird thing in a junk drawer.”

Answer: The classic Sunbeam Mixmaster had a juicer attachment which looked like a bowl attached to the top of the mixer. This is the spout from which the juice pours out. The wire part had a small sieve to filter the pulp.

“What is this tall piece of plastic with a metal base that collapses into it?”

Answer: This is a clarinet (or similar instrument) stand.

“I found this while cleaning out the attic. It’s wood, looks handmade, measures 8 inches, but I have no idea what it is or what it does.”

Answer: It’s a Yacouba Double Spoon — a symbol of hospitality in traditional African art. It represents 2 very distinct universes that are opposite.

“This strange object from Tiffany’s mysteriously given to my wife by her grandmother while refusing to say what it was.”

Answer: This thing is for stirring drinks.

“What is this ice phenomenon I found on the forest floor today?”

Answer: The term for it is “frost flower” and has to do with moisture freezing as it escapes plant tissue.

“This metal covering on the floor inside our new house, screwed to the ground”

Answer: This is a built-in floor outlet.

“What is this toilet’s purpose?”

Answer: This is a 1950’s Standard “Sanistand” urinal for women.

“Plastic-like, circular object made of ‘cells.’ It can be found on several beaches, Sardinia (Italy).”

Answer: This is biofilm used to treat waste water.

“What’s happening here?”

Answer: “Evaluation trial trenching” is done to make sure there are no important archaeological artefacts that might be destroyed by excavation.

Bonus: “I saw this weird cloud while running.”

Preview photo credit Skusci / Reddit
5-Minute Crafts/Life/15+ Things Whose Purpose Puzzled the Entire Internet
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