# what is this thing?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/330907
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [November 14, 2005, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/330907 "2005-11-14T00:14:15Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@mrrealtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrrealtime)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2005, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/330907/1 "2005-11-14T00:14:15Z")
I bought a house recently and found about 30 of [these](http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d150/mrrealtime/whatIsThis.jpg) in the attic. Anyone know what it is?
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### Author:  [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2005, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/330907/2 "2005-11-14T00:17:47Z")
Ammo holder?
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### Author:  [@Fritz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fritz)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2005, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/330907/3 "2005-11-14T00:20:02Z")
Looks like molds for bullets - pour molten lead into them. Or maybe fishing sinkers (weights)…
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### Author:  [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2005, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/330907/4 "2005-11-14T00:21:16Z")
First guess – candle mold.
Second guess – lead mold for large-calibre rounds.
Third guess – heat dissipation mainfold for a 1920’s style death ray…
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### Author:  [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2005, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/330907/5 "2005-11-14T00:21:48Z")
With the pen there for scale, it sure isn’t a shoulder fire weapon, and anything that size would likely be belt-fed.
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### Author:  [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2005, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/330907/6 "2005-11-14T00:24:48Z")
Sounds silly but I’ve seen things similiar to this used to hold young plants before they are planted in a more permanent area. Does the house have a big garden or remnants of one?
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### Author:  [@mrrealtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrrealtime)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2005, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/330907/7 "2005-11-14T00:56:38Z")
I did some digging based on the manufacturers name printed on the plastic…they are probably seedling trays for trees. This is the most likely explaination because this property is an acreage with a large amount of trees, including a lot of small ones that appear to be pretty young. Wonder what I can use them for now?
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### Author:  [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2005, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/330907/8 "2005-11-14T01:02:27Z")
Well, you didn’t mention that they were made of plastic…
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### Author:  [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2005, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/330907/9 "2005-11-14T01:04:33Z")
> [@mrrealtime](#):
>
> Wonder what I can use them for now?
Get some sticks and make popsicles, after a good wash.
Start seeds.
Stand-up rack for screwdrivers.
Ditto for wooden spoons in the kitchen.
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### Author:  [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2005, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/330907/10 "2005-11-14T01:12:17Z")
Ditto on the plant-related. Probably for starting seedlings.
You forgot to mention what is is made of.
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### Author:  [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2005, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/330907/11 "2005-11-14T01:14:51Z")
Oops. I suppose I will learn to read. :smack:
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### Author:  [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2005, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/330907/12 "2005-11-14T02:13:04Z")
Fatty caddy?