“I Found These at My Grandma’s House and Have No Idea What They Are” — Here’s How to Solve the Mystery

by

📚 Step 4: Research the Time Period & Lifestyle

Knowing when your grandma lived in the house (or when the item looks like it’s from) helps narrow things down.

Common Eras & Their Tools:

✅ 1920s–1940s
Buttonhooks, hair crimpers, kerosene testers, butter molds
✅ 1950s–1960s
Fondue sets, TV dinner trays, rotary phone parts, fabric pinking shears
✅ 1970s–1980s
Cassette cases, rotary calculators, avocado-green kitchen gadgets

🧠 Context clues help: Was she a homemaker? Nurse? Teacher? Gardener?

Each role came with its own toolkit.

🏛️ 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 – Curators may offer free identification days
  • Thrift stores with knowledgeable staff – Some tag vintage finds accurately

🎒 Bring the object (if portable) or high-quality photos.

🌟 Real Examples: Mystery Objects Solved

Here are actual discoveries people made in grandparents’ homes — and what they turned out to be:

Tiny silver cup with a hinged lid
Vanity compact— women carried these for powder and mirrors
Metal gadget shaped like scissors with no blades
Buttonhook— used to fasten tight buttons on gloves or shoes
Glass jar with metal top and rubber seal
Canning jar— for preserving fruits and vegetables at home
Small wooden paddle with holes
Vintage bath brush— used before showers were common
Brass device with a crank and bell
Hand-cranked telephone ringer— pre-electric communication

🧩 Each one tells a story of daily life long before smartphones and supermarkets.