“I Found These at My Grandma’s House and Have No Idea What They Are” — Here’s How to Solve the Mystery
You’re cleaning out your grandmother’s house when you come across something strange.
A small metal tool with tiny teeth.
A glass bottle filled with faded powder.
A wooden box engraved with initials you don’t recognize.
You turn it over in your hands.
No label.
No instructions.
Just questions.
What was this used for?
Did she use it every day—or only on special occasions?
Is it valuable, sentimental, or just an old forgotten object?
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Millions of people discover mysterious items in attics, drawers, and boxes left behind by previous generations. The good news is that you don’t need to be an antique expert to figure out what they are.
Here’s how to solve the mystery—step by step.
🔍 Step 1: Examine the Object Carefully
Before cleaning or moving it, take a close look.
Pay attention to:
- Maker’s marks, logos, or patent numbers
These can often lead directly to the manufacturer and production date. - Material (wood, brass, ceramic, Bakelite)
Materials help narrow down the era and purpose. - Wear patterns
Smooth handles or worn edges suggest frequent use. - Engravings or initials
These may link the object to a family member or a special occasion.
📸 Pro tip: Take clear photos from multiple angles, including close-ups of small details.
💡 Avoid aggressive cleaning—you could erase important historical clues.
🔎 Step 2: Search Online Using Smart Keywords
Use what you observed to build a specific search query.
Instead of typing “weird old thing,” try:
- “Vintage brass hand tool with serrated edge”
- “1940s glass perfume bottle with pink powder”
- “Wooden box with clasp marked ‘Simplicity’”
Helpful tools:
- Google Lens – Upload a photo for instant visual matches
- r/whatisthisthing (Reddit) – A large community that loves identifying objects
- Etsy or eBay – Listings often include names, dates, and uses
- Museum and library archives – Many institutions have searchable online collections
📌 Bonus: Use reverse image search on Google Images.
🧓 Step 3: Ask Family Members While You Still Can
This may be the most powerful step of all.
Talk to relatives who might remember the item.
Ask questions like:
- “Have you seen this before?”
- “Did Grandma ever use this when I was little?”
- “Was this part of her wedding set or her work?”
💡 Stories often matter more than appraisals.
That “strange spoon” might be the one she used to stir baby formula or bake a family recipe.
📚 Step 4: Research the Time Period and Lifestyle
Knowing when the object is from can narrow things down quickly.
Common eras and their tools:
- 1920s–1940s:
Buttonhooks, hair crimpers, kerosene testers, butter molds - 1950s–1960s:
Fondue sets, rotary phone parts, pinking shears, TV dinner trays - 1970s–1980s:
Cassette cases, rotary calculators, avocado-green kitchen gadgets
🧠 Context matters. Was your grandmother a homemaker, nurse, teacher, or gardener?
Each role came with its own everyday tools.
🏛️ Step 5: Visit Local Experts
Sometimes human knowledge beats algorithms.
Try:
- Antique shops – Owners often recognize obscure items
- Historical societies – Especially if the object ties to local industry
- Museums – Some offer free identification days
- Thrift stores with knowledgeable staff
🎒 Bring the object if possible, or high-quality photos.
🌟 Real Mystery Objects—and What They Turned Out to Be
Here are items people commonly find in grandparents’ homes:
- Tiny silver cup with a hinged lid
→ Vanity compact for powder and mirrors - Scissor-shaped metal tool with no blades
→ Buttonhook for fastening gloves or shoes - Glass jar with metal top and rubber seal
→ Home canning jar - Small wooden paddle with holes
→ Vintage bath brush from before indoor showers - Brass device with a crank and bell
→ Hand-cranked telephone ringer
🧩 Each one tells a story about daily life long before smartphones and supermarkets.
❌ Common Myths About Old Objects
- “If it’s old, it must be valuable”
Not true—many vintage items are common and inexpensive. - “Everything old is safe to touch”
Some antiques contain lead, asbestos, or mercury. Research first. - “Only museums can identify old things”
False—millions of items are identified online every day. - “I should restore it right away”
Cleaning too soon can reduce historical value. Always check first.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to know everything to begin.
You just need:
- One photo
- One question
- One conversation
So the next time you find something mysterious from your grandmother’s past, don’t rush to put it away.
Hold it longer.
Look closer.
Ask someone.
Because real history isn’t locked in textbooks.
It lives in drawers, boxes, and attics—waiting for someone to say:
“I wonder what this is…”
