# Can you identify this object? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 18, 2005, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121 "2005-12-18T02:13:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![EvilGhandi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@EvilGhandi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilGhandi)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/81 "2005-12-19T09:47:30Z")
I can tell you what it is. It is two pieces of stamped steel joined by a rivet It is a limited production piece produced in a small machine shop. It was stamped in a quanity greater than 100 (someone had to set jigs for this thing) I can tell you what it is not. It is not galvanised it is not a production model It is not a prying tool it is not a wrenching tool It is not a tool a plumber would use it is not a tool a carpenter would use If it is a tradesmans tool, I would suspect electrician. But I doubt it. My guess would be a manufacturing tool. Probably something to install a cap on a stiff bag. ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/82 "2005-12-19T10:02:30Z")
My guess is something along the lines of a door spring holder-onner in a dishwasher - it holds them on better. I hope so anyway, because the door springs in my dishwasher really, really suck. (actually I’ve already read the GQ threads on this particular malady and just bought a new one anyway, due to it’s otherwise general shittyness.) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/83 "2005-12-19T12:23:18Z")
No to all of the above. The device is the answer to a question that had already been answered, but the inventor just wouldn’t let the question go. It’s the kind of thing that would make you say, “Why didn’t I think of that?” and you would answer yourself, “Because it’s really kind of stupid.” While it is not meant to be disposable, it would, in all likelihood, be thrown out accidentally. It is quite possible to do what this device does for free. It’s really overkill. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/84 "2005-12-19T12:32:22Z")
I notice that the two protrusions on the end of the short piece are bent in opposite directions, is this part: - intended to be inserted into _something a bit like a keyhole_ - to be rotated in an anticlockwise direction once inserted - to be pulled out after being rotated, having locked into something ? Do the two flat prongs perform the opposite function to the two bent ones? ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/85 "2005-12-19T12:44:19Z")
O.K., let’s look at a couple clues: 1. It’s used in conjunction with something you probably encounter every day of your life. 2. It is something a business would typically purchase. Where do these two clues overlap? Let’s address #1 by listing some items most of us encounter every day: 1. Bed 2. Vehicle 3. Money 4. Mail 5. Telephone 6. Computer 7. Food 8. Clothing This list is incomplete, of course. Assuming we had a complete list, it would then be a matter of identifying tools that would be used in conjunction with each item, with the caveat that the tool would not normally be purchased or used by you (it would be purchased/used by a business). A couple examples: Would it be used by a bank teller (#3)? Would it be used by a mail carrier (#4)? [Pooh Bear]Think, think, think…[/Pooh Bear] ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/86 "2005-12-19T12:47:36Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > you do have to twirl it. Like in “twirl over your head”? Or do you mean \*twist \* it? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/87 "2005-12-19T13:20:06Z")
Damnit, I’ve seen one of these before. How about, you slide something into the fork, then rotate the panel to cut whatever it is off. A button remover? ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/88 "2005-12-19T13:22:51Z")
This is driving me nuts. I know I’ve seen one before. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/89 "2005-12-19T13:30:53Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Would it be used by a bank teller? Would it be used by a mail carrier? Or something a gas station attendant might use? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/90 "2005-12-19T13:31:15Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Like in “twirl over your head”? Or do you mean \*twist \* it? Twirl or twist, either one. Think twirl like spaghetti. Good list, but you’re missing something you encounter everyday, but probably don’t think about. Unless you worked directly with it, you probably wouldn’t think about the device, but you might think about what it’s for and have come up with another solution to the problem it solves. The swiveling part helps to secure something. It isn’t inserted into anything. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/91 "2005-12-19T13:31:19Z")
oh… {shakes fist into the air} _Curse you Mr. Blue Sky!_ ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/92 "2005-12-19T13:32:43Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > A button remover? The thing we have to keep in mind here is that it’s something a _business_ would typically purchase. This is driving me batty. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/93 "2005-12-19T13:40:15Z")
A hat? A brooch? A pterodactyl? ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/94 "2005-12-19T13:42:16Z")
So I encounter it on a (nearly) daily basis, but I do not work directly with it. I’m thinking it is something we _see_ and/or a system we _use_, but don’t actually _touch_. Something have to do with: Radio/TV broadcast system Telephone system Transportation system Utility systems ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/95 "2005-12-19T13:42:36Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > The thing we have to keep in mind here is that it’s something a _business_ would typically purchase. > > This is driving me batty. Me too. Staple remover? ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/96 "2005-12-19T13:45:12Z")
I can tell you what it’s not for, and then you’ll understand why I can never go to SeaWorld again. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/97 "2005-12-19T13:45:23Z")
Is it for applying wire twist ties? ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/98 "2005-12-19T13:54:39Z")
Is it a tool used by a service person on something you encounter everyday? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/99 "2005-12-19T13:54:43Z")
> [@Martin Hyde](#): > > I can tell you what it’s not for, and then you’ll understand why I can never go to SeaWorld again. Those dolphins were underage, and one of them is still in therapy, you monster. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121/100 "2005-12-19T13:55:06Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > So I encounter it on a (nearly) daily basis, but I do not work directly with it. I’m thinking it is something we _see_ and/or a system we _use_, but don’t actually _touch_. > > Something have to do with: > > Radio/TV broadcast system > Telephone system > Transportation system > Utility systems You could touch it and probably do. Odds are that someone else is in charge of it, though. You don’t actually “work with it”, but you do come in contact with it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-object/336121.md?page=6)