✅ Maker’s marks, logos, or patent numbers
Can lead directly to manufacturer and date
✅ Material (wood, brass, ceramic, Bakelite)
Helps narrow down era and purpose
✅ Wear patterns
Clues about how it was used (e.g., handle smooth from gripping)
✅ Engravings or initials
May link to family members or gifts
📸 Pro Tip: Take clear photos from multiple angles — including close-ups of details.
💡 Never clean aggressively — you might erase historical evidence.
🔎 Step 2: Search Online Using Smart Keywords
Use your observations to build a 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’”
Best Tools for Identification:
✅
Google Lens
Snap a photo → get visual search results instantly
✅
r/whatisthisthing (Reddit)
Huge community of experts who love puzzles — post your photo
✅
Etsy or eBay
Search similar items — often listed with names, dates, and uses
✅
Museum Collections & Library Archives
Institutions like the Smithsonian or local historical societies have online databases
📌 Bonus: Reverse image search — upload your photo to Google Images.
🧓 Step 3: Ask Family Members While You Still Can
This is the most powerful step of all.
Talk to relatives while they’re still around to remember.
Ask:
