If you study history, you’ll realize that things can change rapidly over time. What might be commonplace one day can become unfamiliar within just a few months or years.
This is something understood not only by historians but also evident in our everyday lives. Observing the world around us, we often encounter things that were familiar to our parents or grandparents but are completely unknown to us.
That’s what we have for you below. These 10 pictures feature mysterious objects that nearly broke the Internet. Fortunately, someone was able to uncover their true identities.
1. My mom discovered this in my dad’s drawer. Is it what I’m afraid it is?
The classic Sunbeam Mixmaster featured a juicer attachment with a bowl that connected to the top of the mixer. This is the spout where the juice would pour out, and the wire part held a small strainer to filter out the pulp.
2. What’s this insanely heavy glass with bubbles inside?
It appears to be a paperweight, used to prevent stacks of papers from blowing off the desk in a breeze. Nowadays, they are primarily used as decorations.
3. What is this strange glass ball, suspended by screws within a bronze or gold-colored metal frame?
This is a Campbell-Stokes sunshine recorder. To use it, place a strip of card into one set of grooves behind the sphere and point the opposite side of the sphere towards the equator. The sphere focuses sunlight to burn a track on the card, which is marked with hours. The more the card is burnt, the brighter the sunlight was.
4. What is this thick, round wooden stick with a cylindrical structure on one end?
Likely utilized alongside a Singing Bell, this stick is gently rubbed around the edge to set the bell vibrating. You may have witnessed a similar effect with glasses.
5. What is the purpose of this three-legged stool with an exceptionally narrow back?
It’s a milking stool, similar in design to a three-legged birthing-style spinning chair. In essence, it doesn’t have any distinct purpose.
6. A glass vase featuring a metal grill within?
It’s designed for arranging cut flowers, often referred to as a rose bowl.
7. A stainless-steel item found during the cleaning of a laboratory space, marked with an “H” within a diamond stamp?
It’s a glass tube cutter!
8. Constructed entirely from glass, featuring tapered holes running completely through.
It’s a flower frog, traditionally utilized for securing flower arrangements within a vase. Its use has been superseded by foam and gels.
9. What is this glass item? It has a substantial weight, lacks any markings, and sports an extremely narrow opening at the top.
It’s an oil candle.
10. It appears to be anything but a typical ring?
The ring is worn in remembrance, functioning as a mourning ring. It’s a piece from the Georgian or early Victorian era, featuring the initials of the departed loved one. Typically crafted from 18k+ gold and adorned with black enamel, yours appears to have been made between the 1820s and 1840s.