If you dig into history, you’ll notice that stuff changes pretty fast as time goes by. Something that was usual at one point can turn into a total mystery in just a few months or maybe a couple of years.
It’s not just something historians know about; we see it in our own lives too. When we glance at our surroundings, we come across things that our parents or grandparents might’ve been familiar with, but we’re clueless about them.
Here’s what we’ve got for you below. These 12 pictures feature items that were pretty puzzling and nearly caused an online sensation. Luckily, someone managed to uncover their real identities.
1. ”My mom found this in my dad’s drawer. Is it what I am afraid of?”
Answer: The traditional Sunbeam Mixmaster came with a juicer add-on, which was a bowl that you could connect to the mixer’s top. This is where the juice would flow from, and the wire part held a small strainer to remove any pulp.
2. ”What’s this insanely heavy glass with bubbles inside? The inscription says 1978.”
Answer: It appears to be a paperweight, which used to prevent paper piles from flying away in a draft. Nowadays, they’re mainly used as decorative items.
3. ”What’s this weird glass ball, suspended by screws, in a metal frame, bronze or gold color in appearance?”
Answer: This is a Campbell-Stokes sunshine recorder. You insert a card strip into one of the grooves on the curved part behind the sphere, aim the other side of the sphere toward the equator, and the sphere concentrates sunlight to scorch a path on the card. The card has marked hours, and the more it burns, the stronger the sunlight was.
4. ”What’s this thick round wooden stick with a cylindrical structure on one end?”
Answer: This could be meant for a Singing Bell. You gently slide the stick around its edge, and the bell begins to vibrate. You’ve probably seen a similar effect with glassware.
5. ”What’s this three-legged stool with a very narrow back, does it serve a specific purpose?”
Answer: It’s a three-legged stool, like the kind used for birthing or spinning. In simple terms, it doesn’t serve any particular purpose.
6. ”I found this at nan’s house, it’s a glass vase with metal grill inside.”
Answer: This is used for setting up cut flowers, like a rose bowl.
7. ”This thing is made of leather, and about 15″ in length. Any ideas?”
Answer: This appears to be a fancy tassel that you’d find on a purse.
8. ”I found this stainless-steel object when cleaning out a lab space. Has an “H” in a diamond stamp.”
Answer: It’s a glass tube cutter! I’ve used it plenty of times in the chemistry lab.
9. ”I found this in an old cabinet, made entirely of glass with narrowing holes all the way through.”
Answer: This is a flower frog, designed to keep a flower arrangement in place inside a vase. Nowadays, it’s become outdated with the use of foam and gels.
10. ”Does anyone know what the purpose of the little hole on the back of this empty gold ring is?”
Answer: The hole is there to stop air pressure shifts from harming the ring.
11. ”What is this glass object? It’s fairly heavy, has no markings, and a very narrow hole on top.”
Answer: It’s an oil candle.
12. ”This ring was buried in my garden. After cleaning it, I saw that it doesn’t look like an ordinary ring. Any ideas?”
Answer: It’s truly sad. The ring is worn in memory of a loved one who has passed away. This is a Georgian or early Victorian ring, and the initials on it represent the departed loved one. These rings were usually crafted from high-quality gold (18k or more) and adorned with black enamel. It seems like your ring was likely made between the 1820s and 1840s.
