# What is this thing? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 22, 2010, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/561532 "2010-11-22T10:57:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/561532/1 "2010-11-22T10:57:42Z")
A friend found [this thing](http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/4623/thingh.jpg) on the sidewalk, and wants to know what the heck it is. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/561532/2 "2010-11-22T11:16:48Z")
objet de art? ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/561532/3 "2010-11-22T11:18:59Z")
Could it be a part that fell off a passing harvesting machine? A sort of rake to rake up hay? It makes sense that those are sort of loosely attached, so they don’t snag the machine stop when they get stuck. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/561532/4 "2010-11-22T11:19:28Z")
Yeah, maybe a frame for a papier-mache spider? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/561532/5 "2010-11-22T11:40:42Z")
I’m tempted to think it’s off a lightshade or something. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/561532/6 "2010-11-22T11:58:04Z")
I’d think objet d’art if it didn’t have the functional clip at top. Concentrating on the centre piece: it’s pink. My first thought - could it be something to do with cosmetic treatments? It’s splashed with something red. Could this be clipped to a hairdrying machine and positioned on your head while having your hair dyed red? (OK, I got nothing.) A paint mixing device? ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/561532/7 "2010-11-22T13:51:04Z")
I’d say it’s designed to be squeezed smaller for insertion into a circular cylinder and then the prongs don’t allow it to slip back out until it’s squeezed again. It could fit in something like a cleaning mop head or the inside of a large metal pipe. I’ll go for a cloth head for cleaning fitting over the frame as my number one choice. You can always use it as a rug beater. ---
**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:** [November 22, 2010, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/561532/8 "2010-11-22T14:11:38Z")
A tie rack. Hangs over the closet door. ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/561532/9 "2010-11-22T14:23:49Z")
It looks like the prongs extend from the center hub in a single plane and then they all turn up at about 60 degrees. There also seems to be a bracket attached to the hub but it is not centered. It looks like it is designed to swivel from flat with the plane to some angle which I’ll guess is a lot less than 90 degrees. I can’t say it is an exact match, but I’ve seen old mop heads that have a similar design. Something like this would be intended to be the frame for a covering of some kind - maybe a soft cloth covering or something for grabbing dust. The fact that the prongs angle up though probably nixes that idea but maybe that will give someone else a clue. ---
**Author:** ![KinkiNipponTourist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e9bcb4/32.png) [@KinkiNipponTourist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KinkiNipponTourist)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/561532/10 "2010-11-22T14:26:14Z")
giant diaphragm? ---
**Author:** ![nikonikosuru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f8ce5/32.png) [@nikonikosuru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nikonikosuru)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/561532/11 "2010-11-22T14:27:11Z")
Leftover Halloween prop? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/561532/12 "2010-11-22T14:31:09Z")
Leaverite. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/561532/13 "2010-11-22T14:40:40Z")
Cthulhu wall art. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/561532/14 "2010-11-22T14:41:39Z")
Could it be for a burner (horizontal)? What _is_ that thing? I know what it is! It’s… Nah. What is that _thing?_ ---
**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:** [November 22, 2010, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/561532/15 "2010-11-22T14:46:19Z")
Some vital part that a time traveler lost. ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/561532/16 "2010-11-22T15:06:04Z")
I thought it might be a head massager like this - [http://www.gadgetsuk.com/Genie-Head-Massager-p-17571.html](http://www.gadgetsuk.com/Genie-Head-Massager-p-17571.html) - but the device in the OP looks like it might just cause parallel scalp lacerations instead. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/561532/17 "2010-11-22T16:01:17Z")
Sex toy. ---
**Author:** ![rayman5321](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@rayman5321](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayman5321)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/561532/18 "2010-11-22T16:23:27Z")
Do you live in California? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/561532/19 "2010-11-22T16:44:15Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > A tie rack. Hangs over the closet door. What I thought. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/561532/20 "2010-11-22T17:05:47Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > A tie rack. Hangs over the closet door. I doubt it. For one thing, how does it hang? For another, you could’t fit many ties on it, and half of the ones you do will fall off. Lastly, the hooks aren’t coated in rubber or plastic. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing/561532.md?page=2)