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submitted 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) by BeatTakeshi@lemmy.world to c/whatisthisthing@lemmy.world

Edit: in Belgium if it gives any clue

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[-] Hansae@lemmy.dbzer0.com 210 points 4 days ago

Wood pickaxe, used to gather some stone to get a stone pickaxe.

[-] AnnaFrankfurter@lemmy.ml 13 points 4 days ago

Then once the iron age comes we will create it from iron

[-] TheTechnician27@lemmy.world 141 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

I really wish this comm took after Rule 2 of /r/whatisthisthing and disallowed joke comments. Not because "reeee no fun allowed" but because that's already present everywhere else, and it'd facilitate a lot more interesting, useful, unique discussion.

Without hyperbole, that one rule makes /r/whatisthisthing way better than most subreddits, because it doesn't let it just sink into the lowest common denominator like the rest of that shithole has.

[-] quediuspayu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 32 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

I personally don't mind them, yet.
Posts around here don't get that many comments so it is not that hard to ignore them, in a place with as many people as reddit is an absolute necessity a rule like that but here I don't it is a problem, again, yet.
Maybe in the future if it goes beyond an annoyance sometimes and becomes a problem.

[-] HerbGrower@slrpnk.net 16 points 4 days ago

If it becomes a problem a compromise could be one automated post for joke comments to go under and all others are banned. You keep the funny, but its contained and easy to skip past.

[-] Sergio@piefed.social 7 points 4 days ago

But doctor I have this problem: whenever I'm serious, people think I'm joking, and whenever I'm joking, people think I'm serious.

[-] Alpha71@lemmy.world 5 points 4 days ago

-Pagliacci the clown.

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[-] Exulion@lemmy.world 93 points 4 days ago

You see, it has a flared bottom..

[-] Kowowow@lemmy.ca 20 points 4 days ago

A one legged rocking chair?

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[-] riot@fedia.io 75 points 4 days ago

Perhaps an antique wooden hanger? But without the hook at the end. Like this: https://wallapop.com/item/percha-antigua-de-madera-1293455579

EDIT: Adding a megalodon archive link, just in case. Just learned today that you can put gyo.tc/ in front of any link. Class!

[-] JeSuisUnHombre@lemmy.zip 11 points 4 days ago

This seems like the most promising answer, what does the end on the ground look like?

[-] Test_Tickles@lemmy.world 5 points 4 days ago

Ya, I had the same thought. Instead of hanging, this one goes into a rack of some sort for holding multiple pieces. I'm willing to bet this picture was taken next to, or at least very close to, a church. It's probably used to hang vestments or robes.

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[-] weps@lemmy.world 23 points 4 days ago

It's a clothes hanger. There's a central stick with holes where you put your part in.

My grandma had something similar. She used it as a dildo.

[-] tetris11@feddit.uk 6 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Yeah, outdoor clothes hangers still function the same way as a solid concrete base with a deep hole that you can plant a staff in

My grandad would bury his rod in there from time to time

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[-] exaybachae@startrek.website 21 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

I think it's upside down, and probably should have a hook for hanging that's located in the middle of the curved section, which is shown in contact with the ground.

But it could also be simply an extention pole for reaching hung garmets that are stored or displayed overhead... Nowadays such extensions are usually just poles with hooks.

[-] MeatPilot@sh.itjust.works 34 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

You slide the pole up your ass and run around pretending to be a wind-up doll. Then ask random strangers to turn it.

[-] FlembleFabber@sh.itjust.works 20 points 4 days ago

This man right here officer

[-] Gerudo@lemmy.zip 26 points 4 days ago

World's largest IUD?

[-] Trex202@lemmy.world 29 points 4 days ago

Gardening Holer

Like this but longer so you don't have to bend over. The lines are for different depths for different plants

[-] BeatTakeshi@lemmy.world 33 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Wouldn't the varnish be gone at the tip? Would the tip be round-ish? Would the higher depths be thinner? Makes no sense to me

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[-] Catoblepas@lemmy.blahaj.zone 13 points 4 days ago

I was going to suggest it was some kind of gardening tool due to its proximity to what appears to be a garden bed, but was stumped on what exactly you would use it for. This seems like a good theory, but is it useful without a sharp base like the one on your example pic? I guess you could attach a metal bit when you need to, but I don’t see evidence of the kind of wear that implies that on the pic. Maybe it’s only used in very soft gardening soil, but it looks like a nicely made, older one, so you’d think then that there would be a need for some kind of spike if you’re just going to town in your yard instead of using store-bought soil.

Maybe I’m overthinking it.

[-] tyler@programming.dev 9 points 4 days ago

Also the flat handle would dig in and make it very difficult to push, I don’t think this is it.

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[-] Speiser0@feddit.org 29 points 4 days ago

Historians will say it was for religious purposes.

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[-] nullify3112@lemmy.world 12 points 4 days ago

It’s the wooden pick axe in Minecraft

[-] ivanafterall@lemmy.world 13 points 4 days ago

Part of a disassembled rocking chair or cradle?

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[-] UncleArthur@lemmy.world 15 points 4 days ago

Doesn't look like it, It doesn't have the other crossbar at 90 degrees. It does give me spinning wheel vibes though, I bet it does have something to do with yarn.

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[-] justdaveisfine@piefed.social 13 points 4 days ago

The top part doesn't look worn or have the right grips to be a handle.

My guess is there are holes on the other side not visible to the camera, as its probably only one piece of a large set of furniture.

Maybe part of an old style cradle, like a vintage Jenny Lind style one.

[-] BeatTakeshi@lemmy.world 6 points 4 days ago
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[-] Davel23@fedia.io 13 points 4 days ago
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[-] Zarobi@aussie.zone 4 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Lacquered light wood, with intricate details. Too delicate to be a gardening tool. Too scuffed and worn to be ornamental. Also it appears upside down, notice the wear at the top.

That's all I can see. The rest is speculation from me. Possibly we're seeing the leg of something, like an armchair or rocking chair? Maybe a part of a large tool, like something to do with weaving or another workbench?

[-] GreenKnight23@lemmy.world 7 points 4 days ago

we don't talk about grandma's toys.

My, what big toys you have, grandma.

[-] SCmSTR@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Looks like a standalone thing, has no connections. Tool or toy.

There's a section that's very clearly not the handle, and a section that in stark contrast, is a handle.

Is made of wood, entirely, and looks quite delicate. For gentler tasks/use.

It's long. So it must be to extend reach from the handle part.

Is entirely curvy without sharp edges, even when looking kind of worn. Designed not to cut or damage.

Handle is simple and round, rather than having ridges or second axis torque. It is not for twisting.

Non-handle end is curved and two-ended, with curves that look like for picking and pulling.

Tips of pulling end are a specific size and surface. Bigger would be stronger but less precise, smaller would be more precise but may risk damage and be weaker. Can imply strength and weight of thing this tool comes into contact with.

Tool-ends are flat, rather than round/dowels. So the thickness of the tool end is precise, with the amount of strength needed from the added width.

It also looks in fairly good condition for how old it looks, but simultaneously has even use wear through the finish. Used, not new, indoor tool.

My best guess is it's a tool meant for grabbing and pulling fabric or thread, with the secondary ability to push without getting caught, maybe on a large table.

Going by the era design and simplicity, it's either from a time or a place with a level of technology that is still relatively simple, a la 1900 USA textiles industry, rather than hyper modern. Or a person, now, who made it themselves and doesn't need anything fancy, or who likes this style (it does have the dark smooth finish).

My guess: garment maker's tool, possibly men's suits/tailor.

[-] ChonkyOwlbear@lemmy.world 8 points 4 days ago
[-] quediuspayu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 4 days ago

It gives me the impression that it upsidedown, it reminds me a coat hanger without the neck in the middle, as it is for holding upright something that drapes from those arms, like a small banner.

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[-] toiletobserver@lemmy.world 7 points 4 days ago
[-] Ephera@lemmy.ml 6 points 4 days ago

The curvature looks like if you set it onto the ground, you could step forward and it would roll over the right distance, so you can still hold it.

So, maybe a measuring helper (is the curved part perhaps 1m long?) or maybe you'd use it to carve lines into a garden bed, for partitioning.

[-] BeatTakeshi@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

Went back the next day with a measuring tape but it was gone

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[-] altphoto@lemmy.today 4 points 4 days ago

It's a pik for soft gold mining.

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this post was submitted on 22 Sep 2026
209 points (99.1% liked)

What is this thing?

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