# Identify this Whatsit **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 3, 2018, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-whatsit/805790 "2018-01-03T11:57:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-whatsit/805790/21 "2018-01-03T17:33:28Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > No, _I_ am the 'coaster ’ camp! Squeeze me, baking powder, I forgot the ‘in’ !! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-whatsit/805790/22 "2018-01-03T17:35:58Z")
Kindling. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-whatsit/805790/23 "2018-01-03T17:36:26Z")
I wonder is the wood maybe ‘bamboo’? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-whatsit/805790/24 "2018-01-03T17:38:31Z")
I’m pretty sure it’s one of the critical components in a [turboencabulator](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turboencabulator). ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-whatsit/805790/25 "2018-01-03T17:43:19Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Could it be a trivet? The “handle” keeps you from burning yourself while you carry it to the table under the pot. The OP says the diameter is about 2.5" so that only works for a very small pot. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-whatsit/805790/26 "2018-01-03T17:52:37Z")
Obviously none of you are familiar with the care and feeding of elephants. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-whatsit/805790/27 "2018-01-03T18:28:28Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > Obviously none of you are familiar with the care and feeding of elephants. I’ve seen them eat oak branches. Could it serve to be a cable hook? ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-whatsit/805790/28 "2018-01-03T18:33:03Z")
Mug cover to prevent flying things from getting into your tea? Think beer stein lid. I know you don’t want to be behind an elephant when he lets fly with the dung… ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-whatsit/805790/29 "2018-01-03T18:44:01Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I wonder is the wood maybe ‘bamboo’? It sure looks like bamboo to me. Which would lead me to think it is some kind of Asian cuisine serving or cooking tool, probably for serving. It doesn’t have to be functional or practical, just stylistic and simple. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-whatsit/805790/30 "2018-01-03T19:07:00Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > It sure looks like bamboo to me. Which would lead me to think it is some kind of Asian cuisine serving or cooking tool, probably for serving. How about a dumpling press? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-whatsit/805790/31 "2018-01-03T19:18:15Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > It sure looks like bamboo to me. Which would lead me to think it is some kind of Asian cuisine serving or cooking tool, probably for serving. > > It doesn’t have to be functional or practical, just stylistic and simple. I can see it being used to convey tiny bowls to table at a restaurant so that the waiter doesn’t touch your ginger slices. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-whatsit/805790/32 "2018-01-03T19:52:18Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I can see it being used to convey tiny bowls to table at a restaurant so that the waiter doesn’t touch your ginger slices. I could see it used on one of those [sushi bar conveyor belts](https://www.google.com/search?biw=1056&bih=509&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=tDNNWtPiAavajwSP35eoCw&q=sushi+bar+conveyor+belt&oq=sushi+bar+conveyor+belt&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0j0i24k1.43660.51775.0.52142.23.18.0.2.2.0.983.3948.6-5.5.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..17.6.2995...0i67k1.0.buIievg8d4Q). ---
**Author:** ![RunSilent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e0b2c6/32.png) [@RunSilent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RunSilent)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-whatsit/805790/33 "2018-01-03T20:20:38Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Whoa! Haven’t heard _that_ name in many, many moons. Thanks for the memory! I thought of it while finishing up a game of Three Cornered Pitney… ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-whatsit/805790/34 "2018-01-03T21:56:44Z")
It is obviously a piece of art a la The Gridball Hypotheses. Or maybe it is a fromitz board? ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-whatsit/805790/35 "2018-01-03T22:04:23Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > No, _I_ am the 'coaster ’ camp! You’re both wrong. I am the coaster camp! 😕:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-whatsit/805790/36 "2018-01-03T22:06:39Z")
> [@RunSilent](#): > > Could it be something used in 43-Man Squamish? Or 65-Man Klonkball? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-whatsit/805790/37 "2018-01-03T22:08:39Z")
So camp-y! P.S. I like the beer stein cover idea. ---
**Author:** ![Bro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/47e85d/32.png) [@Bro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bro)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-whatsit/805790/38 "2018-01-03T22:12:46Z")
Man, dildos sure got weird in the last year. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-whatsit/805790/39 "2018-01-03T22:24:46Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Or 65-Man Klonkball? [Exhibition Shirling](https://youtu.be/6gu3mbl8SAk). ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-whatsit/805790/40 "2018-01-03T22:48:22Z")
Well … whoever is the “coaster” camp … here I come … may God have mercy on your soul … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-whatsit/805790.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-whatsit/805790.md?page=3)