When you join auctions, visit the antique shops or go through garage sales, there can be weird vintage items that you find in the heaps of junk. These old trinkets can make you wonder what they are and how they would be used. But, the things that we enjoy these days are really just improved versions of the old tools!
Take a look at these weird items that may look entirely unfamiliar to you, especially if you were born in the modern era. If ever you find any of these, then maybe you’ll have some clue what they’re for.
This metal device has a tight hinge and two large suction cups on it. It turns out, it is used for holding cowboy hats when you are riding in the car. It attaches to the ceiling or windows and provides a place to store your hat.
The butter pick is positioned next to a pen so you can get an idea of the size. Butter picks are used to shape butter into curls. They allow you to shave little spirals off.
Instead of putting a bar towel over a rod or a hook, these metal rods clamp down to hold the towel in place. It’s not better or worse than any other type of towel holder. It’s just different than the ones that most homes have today.
Most of us will never have to use one of these. However, if your ice comes in giant blocks, a pick like this can be used to chip some off. The tongs on the side squeeze in and grab the chunk.
The person who found this item thought it was a piece of jewelry. It was in her grandma’s jewelry box from the 1950s. However, it’s actually a glove clip. The bracelet chain is meant to be wrapped around a purse, not a wrist.
This miniature machine was likely used by young girls and boys to wash baby doll clothes. It’s a tiny version of the bigger ones often used in homes during that time period. You crank the handle and the clothes spin around.
Here we have an antique spoon with Victorian patterns on it. It was likely used to eat ice cream. However, some people also would use spoons with pointed ends to eat citrus fruits such as grapefruits.
At first glance, this might appear to be some sort of cheese grater or cooking device. However, it’s actually a type of instrument from South America called a guacharaca. A metal brush is scraped across the surface to make musical sounds.
To the untrained eye, this device looks pretty confusing. However, it’s used on vineyards to cut the grape off the stems. It allows you to pick a lot of grapes very rapidly using a twisting motion.
Technically, you could put anything in this little Swiss box. It is about the size of a match stick. It’s intended to be used as an ashtray when you are on the go and away from home.
Horse owners will know what this one is. It’s a horse pick for cleaning the horses’ hooves. Oftentimes, debris and dirt get stuck in the hooves of horses and need to be removed.
It’s one of the strangest gifts you might ever receive — a personal salt cellar. Keep your own private salt supply inside the pineapple and take it with you everywhere. There is even a small spoon to help you scoop it out.
Before the days of electronic calculators, there were Optima Circular Calculators. They were popular in Germany in the early 1900s. They can be used to do simple calculations and conversions.
This device is used for tracking down the location of quiet sounds. For example, in an automotive shop when they are trying to find where vibration is coming from in an engine. The rod can be moved around and it picks up the sound.
People who make sails for ships use these leather straps to push needles through the heavy material. The leather strap goes around the hand prevents the needle from hurting you. It’s an extremely tough leather.
What exactly was the Bell System KX8400? It turns out, it was slipped over pencils to help people turn rotary phone dials. It made dialing numbers much easier and saved your fingers.
Here we have a novelty swizzle stick shaped like a golf club. You use swizzle sticks to stir drinks with ice in them. Just hold the stick between your palms and move your palms back and forth.
This type of change purse was common in the Victorian era. They remained in use up until around 1920. They featured a metal chain mail pouch to keep your coins in.
Did you mistake this for an old-fashioned flask or container for holding wine? If you did, we don’t blame you. However, it’s actually a flower vase for inside your car. Flowers are an all-natural air freshener solution.
This keyhole was discovered in the wall of a hospital by one of the staff. It’s a relic from the past. The hospital night watchmen used to have to turn a key in the hole while doing their rounds. It marked that they stopped there.
Instead of chopping up fresh herbs from the garden with a knife, you can use this herb cutter. It’s made specifically for the job. It makes it quick and easy to dice up herbs such as chives and mint.
Despite what it may look like, this isn’t a Medieval torture device. It’s actually a hand vice grip used in watch and jewelry repair. It’s good for gripping onto small items.
Here we have an old-fashioned tool used for making buttons. It’s not in perfect condition. Originally, it would have had an additional handle to assist in opening and closing the mold.
Have you ever wanted to tell time using just the sun? If so, then this portable sundial is for you. You can carry it around in your pocket and pull it out whenever you need to measure the sun’s shadows.
“I inherited this necklace when my ma passed away. I think she wore it in the 70s. I just found out it has a secret – this pointy mini arrow looking thing comes out!” explained the woman. It used to hold small amounts of perfume inside.
Pastry chefs will definitely recognize these metal rings. They are used when baking cakes with different color layers. The rings are typically coupled with a checkerboard cake pan.
This cranking device was spotted on the wall of an old house. It’s an ice crusher. You put the ice in the top and turn the lever to make crushed ice come out of the bottom.
If you wind it up, it starts ticking. It’s for old cameras that don’t have built-in self-timers. Attach it to the shutter, then sprint out in front of the camera and take your photo.
You take one of these pills to induce vomiting. They are actually magnetic, so they can be retrieved again afterward and reused. Many antimony pills stayed within a family for generations.
Sometimes, you don’t want to use a full spoon. Instead, you opt for a half spoon. Half spoons are what some households used to use in the past for taking medicine.
Wooden phone booths used to have fans in the top corner. The metal one in this picture had rubber blades attached to it back in the day when it was operational. However, all of the blades are missing now.
This metal device removes the tops of soft boiled eggs. You simply place it around the top of the egg and give a light squeeze. It will give you a perfectly circular cut.
Tachometers are used to measure the speed of engines. They show how many revolutions per minute the engine is completing. To people who don’t work on cars, they look very mysterious.
The rough surface of this metal tool can be run against a fish to scrape the scales off. If you are doing a lot of fishing, a scaler like this could be very useful. It is much more effective than using a knife.
These meters were used to measure audience noises at shows, events, and on television. Apparently, they weren’t very reliable. However, back in the day, there weren’t a lot of alternative options either.
The toothpicks go inside of the metal box. The pointy part is movable. It dives down into the box to fetch out a toothpick and bring it back up.
Here we have an antique candle trimmer. It can be used to trim a candle or cut the wick off of one. If you are burning a lot of candles, a trimmer will definitely come in handy.
The long tongs allow the juicer to stand up above a glass. Then a citrus fruit such as an orange or a lemon is cut in half and pushed against the top part. The juice drains down directly into the glass.
The cat sure likes playing around with this wooden plant stand. It’s empty now. However, normally, a potted-plant would be placed in the top circle and suspended off the ground.
This weird contraption looks like some sort of futuristic robot. However, it’s actually used for something simple. It is placed on top of large cans of paint to reseal the lids back on after they have been opened.
If you pull on the ring, four sharp points come out of the other end. It’s meant to be attached to a pocket watch. If someone tries to steal the watch, they will get poked.
Most people have never heard of corn slitters or scorers. They are run across ears of corn to split the kernels into smaller pieces. That way they don’t get stuck in your teeth when you eat them and the butter and salt can seep in more easily.
It might look like just a random piece of fabric. However, if you wrap it around your legs it becomes a pair of very wide and baggy pants. It’s sort of a mix between a dress and pants.
This is a little packet of pegs for the card game Cribbage. They look like wooden matchsticks. However, they are actually made out of plastic.
Sewing pins and needles are stored inside of this cute statue. It is both functional and beautiful. It keeps the pins safely out of the way while still looking great on the mantle.
This was designed to refresh and cool the face without destroying one’s makeup. Among the first ones to use this were actresses when they shoot in hot studio sets.
47. Horse Exercise at Home
This product was made for those who like horseback riding. Having this exercise at home helps improve the blood circulation and overall health.
With this kind of cigarette holder hat, one doesn’t need to worry about damaging cigarette sticks. Wearing the cigarettes on the head makes it easy to grab one and light it up.
49. Mutiple Shower Heads System
With this kind of shower system, people can shower together instead of taking turns. However, this hasn’t been popular these days.
You may be familiar with the sauna suits now. But what they have before is this inflatable sauna hot pants.
To have healthy gums, this product was invented. The gum massager is used for stimulating the gum tissue and to improve circulation. Have you found a modern version of this item?
When you join auctions, visit the antique shops or go through garage sales, there can be weird vintage items that you find in the heaps of junk. These old trinkets can make you wonder what they are and how they would be used. But, the things that we enjoy these days are really just improved versions of the old tools!
Take a look at these weird items that may look entirely unfamiliar to you, especially if you were born in the modern era. If ever you find any of these, then maybe you’ll have some clue what they’re for.
