What are these straps for on this semi’s wheels? A: Those are indicators for the driver to be able to tell if his wheels are spinning. Driving an 18 wheeled beast it can sometimes be difficult to “feel” if a wheel has seized, so this is a quick visual indicator.

Odd circular metal object found in an unopened box of a Dove soap bar. A: It looks like a pretty beat up Peruvian Escudo

What are these plastic-coated steel bolts/nails? Removed from two different flat tires six months apart while driving in Toronto. They’re sharp and the ends appear to have been cut with bolt cutters. A: They are cut trailer seals.

What is this on the outside of the front of houses? A whole neighborhood had these (AZ) A: It’s just for decoration. It’s created with an extra piece of styrofoam that is then stuccoed over. Most new homes offer 3-4 elevation options for each home. It’s supposed to create some design diversity using non-functional elements like this.

Metal ornament possibly bought in Tunisia or Egypt. Appears to show a person holding a severed head. Kept in a garden for many years A: It is a Byzantine cross candle holder.

Wooden ladle-type tool with a spindle in the cup part. A: It’s a rice mold.

Two iron(?) balls pulled out of a river in the UK. They are solid and magnetic. The larger one retains its casting seam. A: Balls for a ball mill. The one that shows the casting you can see where they sliced the sprue off.

Found in an attic in South Wales. Stairs are metal, top platform is wooden. A: It’s either a plant holder or part of a dollhouse.

This rope I perhaps shouldn’t be pulling out of my garden drainage pipe. (I though there might be something hidden on the end before I got concerned and stopped) A: That is a conduit, not a drainage pipe. The string was there so that someone could pull wire through it at a future time.

Hi everyone. Can anyone tell me what the mirror underneath the lid of the My trashcan is for? Thanks guys! A: It’s a holder for a carbon odour filter.

Unusual small silver box with wing on chain inside A: It’s a purse hook. You hang it off of the table so your purse doesn’t touch the floor. The company that made this one is called Arbon and it’s from mid century.

Tubes along the river right next to a water inlet and/or outlet, are they for measuring water level or something? A: It’s the stem that rises and lowers as the gate goes up and down. They work like a screw with a handle or motor operator. These appear to be fully open. I worked in water/waste water 20 yrs.

Leather thing that has a strap that wraps around the back of your hand A: Blackjack. It’s a kind of self defense tool. Check local laws about carrying it around though.

Spotted in a jungle trail about 6 ft tall A: Probably left over from some type of music festival

Found deep inside of a recliner, it’s made of glass. Green part is plastic. A: That is a plastic maple sap spile. Used to tap trees and collect sap to make syrup. The green is plastic hose. Modern sap collection uses these cheaper plastic taps and connects to a series tubing runs to a central sap collection point. Much more efficient and cheaper equipment than collecting each bucket.

What is this sort of little trays holder? It has a handle, it’s all made of metal (to resist temperature?), and the three detachable trays have an “8” shape and two round holes each. A: They are bagel trays from a bread making machine.

Silver cylinder on the end of my new pocket level? A: To be used as a stud finder!

My wife found this small rubber item near our door. Marked Stanley. A: It’s part of the weather stripping at the bottom hinge side of your door.

Strange lead shape found when metal detecting in a yard. About 3 inches long. Did someone pour molten lead down an ant hill? A: Possibly. Or, back in the day some people would burn their trash rather than take it down to the dump. I’ve found similar formations in my back yard fire pit after aluminum horse shoes were left in some feed bags.

What are These Triangular Solar Panel Devices in a Texas Marsh? A: Circulators. Basically solar powered fans that circulate and aerate the water.

What does the circled word say (on?) And what are you supposed to put on the lines after it? A: Looks like an M. For Mr, Mrs, or Ms