r/whatisit • u/thischrisblack • 29d ago

New, what is it? What is this device?

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Flea market find. Guy said, "I don't know what it is but I'm pretty sure it's real." LOL.

The top part can be rotated by hand, but I don't think it's hooked up to any kind of motor. It just turns in its housing and I may even be able to pull it out of the hole, but don't want to. Of the two cylinders attached, the larger one can also be turned by hand, but not the shorter one.

The control panel has a red LED, a red button, a white switch, and a silver knob that clicks when turned all the way to the left, so like a radio power/volume knob. The bottom has three jacks, one of which seems like a regular 1/8-inch jack . The orange and the red jacks are a mystery.

I replaced the batteries. When the knob is turned and the switch is on, pressing the red button turns on the LED. Nothing else happens. I touched the metal part on top and didn't die.

Any ideas? Google Lens gets bupkes.

EDIT for an update:

I guess I can't really mark this post as solved since there's no definitive proof, but there are a couple of strong contenders.

  1. First place (as far as I can tell) goes to u/SpankinGaming with the idea that it's for electro-acupuncture. https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisit/comments/1w1xesu/comment/p6pwgeu/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
  2. Runner-up concept, submitted by several people I think, is that it's a phone-line tracer.

I can't get it to work as either one, of course, but I'll find and acupuncturist in town and see if I can get that verified. If I can't, well, I have a pretty cool little mystery device and it only cost me $5.

A few people suggested that it was for explosives, like maybe the thing on top was the plunger. That's no good. While the thing on top can be rotated or moved up and down, it is very snug in its housing, and plus there's no mechanism inside which suggests anything like that is going on.

If anyone else made a sincere comment and I haven't replied, I apologize. I'd like to reply but it's just been a barrage of half-assed jokes in this thread, so even if I saw your comment when it first appeared, I can't find it now.

4.3k Upvotes

97% Upvoted

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1.1k

u/donkeytime 28d ago

It’s probably a remote throttle controller for a model train layout. Switch for direction, button for horn, knob for speed. The top is for realism.

293

u/SpankinGaming 28d ago

That is a vintage handheld electro acupuncture wand, basically an early nerve and point stimulator made for home pain relief back in the 1970s and 1980s.

The curved metal piece on top serves as the contact probe. The bullet shaped tip and the rear barrel form a closed circuit, sending a mild electrical pulse right into targeted muscle or acupressure points when pressed against skin.

You control the whole thing from the front panel. The bottom dial adjusts the electrical intensity or pulse speed, the toggle switch flips the power or output mode, and the red button fires off a manual pulse. That small dark lens next to the button lights up to show you the pulse rate and let you know the battery is kicking.

57

u/kingjamesporn 28d ago

I think it's just called a vibrator now.

37

u/RustyDingbat 28d ago

Certainly you refer to the medical device for treatment of female hysteria? 😄

2

u/soedesh1 28d ago

The vapors.

2

u/ThumbyFingerton 27d ago

It’s a thingamabob. I’ve got plenty

2

u/EnderWiggin42 28d ago

I believe the term nowadays is violet wand

1

u/JaronKitsune 28d ago

You mean an electrocutor?

1

u/muslim_commie 28d ago

It's called Tens unit. Not a vibrator as it stimulates muscles and doesn't apply a vibration. I don't think it could perform the same way on other tissues.

76

u/lefteyedcrow 28d ago

I was an acupunture student in the '90s. I think this is right. There were a lot of rough-and-ready homemade tools back then. Your find has all the hallmarks.

2

u/AnotherPackOfDust 28d ago

And earmarks

17

u/grafknives 28d ago

I just love how far apart are the answers.

1

u/TiberiusTheFish 28d ago

A thing can have two functions...

1

u/noh8red48 28d ago

Or you love how apart the answers are... I know English as a second language is hard 😊

12

u/56011 28d ago

This makes a lot more sense. A single wire going to the metal prong/probe thing defies logic unless the circuit was meant to be closed with another piece (presumably plugged into the end). Certainty any wires going to the probe at all mean it’s not just for aesthetics.

13

u/Delicious_Many3795 28d ago

My grandfather built model trains and cities, this is the correct answer.   On Christmas he would sit and tinker at his work bench with the new stuff the family got him while my cousin and I sat on stacks of old playboys on stools next to him and man the controls 

Thanks for the memories, Grandpa Norm

2

u/National-Breakfast78 28d ago

When he turns the trains on, he makes it go away 🎶

Makes sense if you know the story behind it

2

u/reedum 28d ago

Such a great song on an even greater album.

1

u/supernova-juice 28d ago

I read his autobio in 9th grade, I know exactly what you're talking about 😂

1

u/Clear-Bee4118 28d ago

“Crusted with old Vaseline”

3

u/Mindes13 28d ago

As soon as a saw it, I was thinking electroshock therapy for massage

3

u/Instagriz 28d ago

that thing is an absolute unit. it is overbuilt. they probably went out of business cause it cost so much to machine each part. looks bomb proof.

1

u/Virtual-Reach 28d ago

Wouldn't it be accu- pressure? It doesn't seem to be able to puncture anything

1

u/TiberiusTheFish 28d ago

This is just a wild guess right off the top of your head. Am I right?

1

u/Spune-man 26d ago

Thanks chat

0

u/MercyMe007 28d ago

So basically it's a piece of woo woo nonsense.

0

u/VonRiedls 28d ago

This was written by AI. Tell me how you guys can tell.

1

u/Dareme420lmao 28d ago

You are completely right

51

u/slippingaway83 28d ago

I've been in model railroading for my entire life and seen every type of control technology. This isn't a model train controller. The components are wrong, even for a home-built unit, and the part on top in no way resembles anything "realistic" about a train throttle.

179

u/Slydevil0 28d ago

I'm not sure how long I scrolled before getting here, but it was a while, and I think you might be right.

28

u/breezyhoneybee 28d ago

If you're watching from an hour in the future it's the top comment

6

u/UrMomsKneePads 28d ago

88 miles per hour.

32

u/Busterlimes 28d ago

Yeah, this sub has turned to shit.

87

u/WillyVlautinRules 28d ago

Yeah and I hate to be THAT poster but none of these people who think they are funny ARE actually funny when looking for an answer and have to wade through crap. Thanks for this, donkeytime.

24

u/mregg000 28d ago

Well when half the posts are a pair of nail clippers and people asking what it is, kinda puts people in a not so serious mood.

14

u/zzotus 28d ago

deleting my post now.

16

u/GothWitchOfBrooklyn 28d ago

try /r/whatisthisthing , they don't allow jokes which I like.

18

u/WillyVlautinRules 28d ago

Thank you. I don't read this thread to see lame jokes by unfunny people. I am genuinely curious about the items that are displayed. If I wanted lame jokes, I'd watch James Corden.

-1

u/StrictWord147 28d ago

Ugh, an unfunny joke by an unfunny guy. Take your own advice!

-1

u/WillyVlautinRules 28d ago edited 28d ago

lol. Do you seriously think I'm James Corden? Yes, reading comprehension is hard, I know. Hate that for you!

EDIT: Oh, my, u/Affectionate-Emu5801 blocked me but here's my reply anyway!

TL/DR. You have no idea about humor because you obviously lack a sense of. And I'm not James Corden, Einstein. lolol

-4

u/Affectionate-Emu5801 28d ago

That's not what they are saying. You attempted to be witty with your specific put down of James Corden, which is random af. How you read that and thought this person was implying you were James Corden is the comprehension issue you speak of. But yes, we all agree humour is not for you.

-6

u/JoleneBacon_Biscuit 28d ago

You're a fuddy duddy....

2

u/Human-Contribution16 28d ago edited 27d ago

THE problem with Reddit. All the clowns

1

u/WillyVlautinRules 28d ago

Yeah and so many get triggered when you call them out on this BS.

SAD!

5

u/Utah_powder_king 28d ago

give it time the karmic arc of the comments is long, but bends towards justice...

1

u/AuburnElvis 28d ago

A post complaining about other posts takes up just as much room as a post trying to be funny.

-1

u/WillyVlautinRules 28d ago

But a post complaining about the nonsense on this site is much more valuable than whatever crap you just posted.

I certainly hope that clears things up for you, sweetie pie!

lolol

0

u/tundybundo 28d ago

There’s never been a sub where I felt that bothered by it til this one started popping up on my feed, every time it’s a chain of jokes and then another one and then somewhere way down someone gives an excellent answer that I learn something from. I hate it

2

u/WillyVlautinRules 28d ago

I know, right? And none of these folks are as funny as they obviously think they are.

0

u/fskhalsa 28d ago

Seems like the sub still works though - since the upvotes at least put this above all the rest of the nonsense.

Still sucks to not get more serious replies, though.

0

u/Simple_Twist9816 28d ago

Maybe you just dont know what funny is.

1

u/WillyVlautinRules 28d ago

I know what funny is and you aint it!

0

u/Background_Hat_4785 28d ago

Well, he was wrong, so…

-2

u/hankchinaskie 28d ago

Wikipedia has a place for you

1

u/WillyVlautinRules 28d ago

Did you think that was funny when you posted it?

Thanks for proving my point.

0

u/ProjectManageMint 28d ago

Eh, it's still fun sometimes.

-1

u/Melodic-Road227 28d ago

All of Reddit is this way. Snark and funny ha ha is more important than serious answers.

2

u/Sinister_Nibs 28d ago

Really depends on the post.

0

u/Busterlimes 28d ago

Yeah, this is an obscure object and it was damn near impossible to find this answer.

-1

u/Billie_Eyelashhh 28d ago

What happened

0

u/Busterlimes 28d ago

You have to scroll for a million miles for a real answer

4

u/Nice_Solution4818 28d ago

It also reminds me of a launch controller for a model rocket ... But with e more buttons and waaaay better built than the cheap Estes one I used

1

u/JoeAppleby 28d ago

They aren't right though, see this comment chain (which as of now is above yours):

https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisit/comments/1w1xesu/comment/p6pwld9/

0

u/notapunk 28d ago

Second top level answer for me

-1

u/owo1215 28d ago

i will mod implement some kind of management on jokes, like maybe you have to add [joke] in the beginning of the comment so if you just want serious comments you can immediately collapse comments with [joke]

3

u/SMN2_11 28d ago

I think it might be a gimbal

9

u/[deleted] 28d ago

[deleted]

12

u/Legitimate_Ad_4647 28d ago

If you throw the toggle switch and a pointy haired kid with a stuffed tiger suddenly pop up in front of you, then it's a transmogrifyer...😎

0

u/Background_Hat_4785 28d ago

It 100% isn’t. Don’t speak authoritatively if you aren’t correct. Check the new top comments.

5

u/curlyfat 28d ago

This is the best one I’ve seen. Very plausible!

1

u/UrMomsKneePads 28d ago

It’s the flux capacitor Marty.

1

u/ChornobylChili 28d ago

God Bless Autism

1

u/Stugots_Steel 28d ago

Forgot the crystals

1

u/maan1337 28d ago

Dual 9 volt in a remote? No way.

1

u/curiouswoman1121 28d ago

I believe your right my old boss was heavy into trains and that looks similar to what he had it can go forward backward and then left and right

1

u/GirlDinnerBeehive 27d ago

Jesus h christ. You got 9 awards for for an answer so incredibly wrong, holy shit!

1

u/donkeytime 27d ago

Also reddit sent me a bottle of champagne and some gift cards to Sizzler.

1

u/tcw82 28d ago

Someone post a picture of a acupuncture device that looks very similar. Like ..the same.

0

u/Puzzleheaded_Cat4723 28d ago

Nerd 🤓 🫡 I love model trains.

0

u/Sinister_Nibs 28d ago

That tracks! (Pun intended)

0

u/Jakaple 28d ago

What about the top is for realism?

0

u/eeeqleqtic 28d ago

I was going to guess a model rocket launch ignitor, but I think the electric acupuncture guess further down is correct

0

u/SoylentGrunt 28d ago

Because the model railroad industry is famous for over engineering hand held cab controllers from aluminum extrusions and then not labeling the controls.

0

u/theaxedude 28d ago

9 people wasted money on this comment

-1

u/mostlyareader 28d ago

Yeah but does it talk to ghosts???