# Need help identifying "stuff"

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-stuff/591461
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [August 4, 2011, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-stuff/591461 "2011-08-04T14:29:25Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![CheeseDonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecae2f/32.png) [@CheeseDonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheeseDonkey)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2011, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-stuff/591461/1 "2011-08-04T14:29:25Z")

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I found a box of random stuff at the end of someone’s driveway and I there’s some stuff in it that I need some help identifying.

This is a basket-y type thing. What is it and what is it used for?

[![](http://tinypic.com/images/goodbye.jpg) ](http://tinypic.com/images/goodbye.jpg)

And here are some action figures I found in the box. What are the names of these characters, or are they just generic characters?

[![](http://tinypic.com/images/goodbye.jpg) ](http://tinypic.com/images/goodbye.jpg)  
[![](http://tinypic.com/images/goodbye.jpg) ](http://tinypic.com/images/goodbye.jpg)  
[![](http://tinypic.com/images/goodbye.jpg) ](http://tinypic.com/images/goodbye.jpg)  
[![](http://tinypic.com/images/goodbye.jpg) ](http://tinypic.com/images/goodbye.jpg)  
[![](http://tinypic.com/images/goodbye.jpg) ](http://tinypic.com/images/goodbye.jpg)  
[![](http://tinypic.com/images/goodbye.jpg) ](http://tinypic.com/images/goodbye.jpg)

Thanks for l’assistance.

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### Author: ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2011, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-stuff/591461/2 "2011-08-04T14:40:55Z")

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> [@CheeseDonkey](#):
>
> This is a basket-y type thing. What is it and what is it used for?
> 
> [http://i51.tinypic.com/32zv11d.jpg](http://i51.tinypic.com/32zv11d.jpg)

That appears to a nutcracker shaped like a wishing well. I would assume it originally came with a bag of nuts in the well.

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### Author: ![Bewildebeest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@Bewildebeest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bewildebeest)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2011, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-stuff/591461/3 "2011-08-04T14:42:39Z")

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It’s a cider press. It looks like some parts are missing, like the part that presses from the top.

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### Author: ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2011, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-stuff/591461/4 "2011-08-04T14:44:20Z")

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> [@CheeseDonkey](#):
>
> And here are some action figures I found in the box. What are the names of these characters, or are they just generic characters?

Two of them are Spiderman villains:

[http://i54.tinypic.com/anln6a.jpg](http://i54.tinypic.com/anln6a.jpg) - [The Lizard](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lizard_(comics))  
[http://i56.tinypic.com/2mdqkr7.jpg](http://i56.tinypic.com/2mdqkr7.jpg) - [Carnage](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnage_(comics))

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### Author: ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2011, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-stuff/591461/5 "2011-08-04T14:48:09Z")

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[Nutcracker](http://www.etsy.com/listing/54026467/vintage-wooden-wishing-well-nut-cracker)

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### Author: ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2011, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-stuff/591461/6 "2011-08-04T14:50:36Z")

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[![](http://tinypic.com/images/goodbye.jpg) ](http://tinypic.com/images/goodbye.jpg)

This guy looks like a Mighty Morphin Power Ranger.

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### Author: ![CheeseDonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecae2f/32.png) [@CheeseDonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheeseDonkey)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2011, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-stuff/591461/7 "2011-08-04T14:53:11Z")

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> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> [Nutcracker](http://www.etsy.com/listing/54026467/vintage-wooden-wishing-well-nut-cracker)

Sounds about right!

[http://cgi.ebay.com/classic-wishing-well-nut-bowl-and-nutcracker-/170674963158?pt=LH\_DefaultDomain\_0&hash=item27bd0542d6#ht\_500wt\_949](http://cgi.ebay.com/classic-wishing-well-nut-bowl-and-nutcracker-/170674963158?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27bd0542d6#ht_500wt_949)

Thanks for the help so far guys.

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### Author: ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2011, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-stuff/591461/8 "2011-08-04T16:33:36Z")

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What’s the size of the nutcracker/cider press? It looks exactly like a cider press, but that would be way too big to make a practical nutcracker. Is it big enough to fit a few apples into it?

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### Author: ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-stuff/591461/9 "2011-08-04T16:42:45Z")

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> [@Chronos](#):
>
> It looks exactly like a cider press, but that would be way too big to make a practical nutcracker.

If you look at the screw part, you can see that there is nothing that presses down into the lower part. Nuts are placed between the end of the screw and the bottom crossbar. The bottom is for decoration only, for a planter or plastic fruit or whatnot.

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### Author: ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2011, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-stuff/591461/10 "2011-08-04T16:44:34Z")

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> [@CheeseDonkey](#):
>
> [http://i56.tinypic.com/2wmg8bl.jpg](http://i56.tinypic.com/2wmg8bl.jpg)

This is a [Sitka Eagle](http://ronsrescuedtreasures.com/MCDONALDS-2003-BROTHER-BEAR-SITKA-EAGLE-FIGURE-TOY-4-34-TALL-P1578873.aspx) happy meal toy from Brother Bear.

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### Author: ![Sigmundex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19adc/32.png) [@Sigmundex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmundex)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2011, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-stuff/591461/11 "2011-08-04T16:49:51Z")

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Correct on the nutcracker. I grew up with that very nutcracker in the house through my whole childhood, always filled with mixed nuts in their shells. Walnuts, filberts, pecans, etc. You put the nut in the little well and screwed down until it cracked.

But it didn’t work very well.

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### Author: ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2011, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-stuff/591461/12 "2011-08-04T17:13:46Z")

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> [@CheeseDonkey](#):
>
> …there’s some stuff in it that I need some help identifying…

I think the fourth figurine is mine. I’ve been looking all over for it. Can you drop it off at my office.?

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### Author: ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2011, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-stuff/591461/13 "2011-08-04T17:20:27Z")

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[http://i51.tinypic.com/n4d007.jpg](http://i51.tinypic.com/n4d007.jpg) - Pretty sure this is Rasputin from the animated Anastasia. I would guess it’s a Happy Meal toy.

[http://i56.tinypic.com/2epub1d.jpg](http://i56.tinypic.com/2epub1d.jpg) - Red Ranger, most likely another Happy Meal toy.

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### Author: ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)
#### Post date: [August 7, 2011, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-stuff/591461/14 "2011-08-07T07:19:29Z")

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> [@CheeseDonkey](#):
>
> I found a box of random stuff at the end of someone’s driveway and I there’s some stuff in it that I need some help identifying.

Uh, just to clarify, this was a “We’ll put the box of random junk out for people who want it” kind of box, and not a “Let’s set down the box with the kids’ favorite toys and the antique nutcracker that Aunt May gave me before she died, while we run in and change the baby’s diaper before we move to the new house” kind of box, right? 😉

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### 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: [August 7, 2011, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-stuff/591461/15 "2011-08-07T08:50:00Z")

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The basket thing is definitely a nut basket with integrated nutcracker. Although it superficially resembles a cider press, there’s no way ot could be, as the screw components and their supports are all wooden and the handle is too small to be able to apply any decent torque.

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### Author: ![CheeseDonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecae2f/32.png) [@CheeseDonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheeseDonkey)
#### Post date: [August 7, 2011, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-stuff/591461/16 "2011-08-07T22:50:33Z")

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> [@chorpler](#):
>
> Uh, just to clarify, this was a “We’ll put the box of random junk out for people who want it” kind of box, and not a “Let’s set down the box with the kids’ favorite toys and the antique nutcracker that Aunt May gave me before she died, while we run in and change the baby’s diaper before we move to the new house” kind of box, right? 😉

It was a “we just had a yard sale and this stuff didn’t sell so we’re throwing it out” kind of box.

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### Author: ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2011, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-stuff/591461/17 "2011-08-09T00:48:55Z")

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> [@CheeseDonkey](#):
>
> It was a “we just had a yard sale and this stuff didn’t sell so we’re throwing it out” kind of box.

Cool, cool. I love finding free stuff out by the street but I’m always afraid somebody’s going to come out and yell at me, so I hardly ever end up taking it. So when my wife and I put stuff out that we want someone to take, we always tape a big “FREE” sign on it to make sure there are no worries. 🙂

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### Author: ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2011, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-stuff/591461/18 "2011-08-09T01:40:53Z")

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> [@CheeseDonkey](#):
>
> [http://i56.tinypic.com/bevuv5.jpg](http://i56.tinypic.com/bevuv5.jpg)

There’s something not right about that figure. I think that either the hand is on the wrong arm or the head and feet are pointing the wrong way.

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### Author: ![CheeseDonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecae2f/32.png) [@CheeseDonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheeseDonkey)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2011, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-stuff/591461/19 "2011-08-09T10:26:49Z")

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> [@KneadToKnow](#):
>
> There’s something not right about that figure. I think that either the hand is on the wrong arm or the head and feet are pointing the wrong way.

He clearly suffered a severe injury in battle. His hand is missing on one arm and his other arm has been overly supinated.

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### Author: ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2011, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-stuff/591461/20 "2011-08-09T11:03:57Z")

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> [@Labdad](#):
>
> [http://i56.tinypic.com/2epub1d.jpg](http://i56.tinypic.com/2epub1d.jpg)
> 
> This guy looks like a Mighty Morphin Power Ranger.

Not quite. He’s the fifth\* [Zeo Ranger](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_Rangers_Zeo), the successor to MMPR. This is the same character who was the former Green and White Rangers of MMPR: Tommy Oliver.

Unless it’s from the Japanese show, [Chōriki Sentai Ohranger](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C5%8Driki_Sentai_Ohranger), of course.

\*Hence the five pointed star on his face mask.
