Found This at a Yard Sale and Had No Idea What It Was—Can You Guess?

Yard sales are treasure troves of the unusual. From old vinyl records to vintage cameras, broken toys, odd sculptures, and half-functional electronics, there’s no telling what you’ll find hidden beneath a pile of dusty boxes or on a rickety card table. But once in a while, something comes along that truly stumps even the most curious collector.

That’s what happened to me last weekend.

At a small community yard sale tucked behind a quiet suburban street, I picked up what looked like an object from another dimension—a thing so strange, so unidentifiable, that even the elderly man running the sale shrugged and said, “Been in my garage since the ’80s.”

The challenge was irresistible. I had to know:
What exactly is this thing?

Let’s unpack the mystery together. Who knows—by the end of this article, maybe you’ll have guessed it correctly. And if not, at least you’ll have gone down the rabbit hole of the strange and fascinating world of obscure inventions.

The First Glance: A Curious Contraption

Here’s what the item looked like:

About 8 inches long
Made of brushed metal and faded plastic
Had a rotating crank handle
One end had a small blade-like edge
The other featured a circular, gear-like wheel
The bottom had a clamp, almost like it could be attached to a table
No brand name, no serial number, no label

Holding it in my hand, I rotated the crank. The wheel turned smoothly, and the edge spun. It wasn’t electronic—completely mechanical. It seemed too complex for a toy, too impractical for a kitchen tool, and too specific to be purely decorative.

Was it a slicer? A craft tool? Some kind of carpenter’s gadget?
Or maybe a secret Cold War-era spy device? (Okay, maybe not…)

Time to investigate.

Step 1: Ask the Locals

I asked the yard sale owner where it came from.
He laughed and said:

“No clue. Think my brother bought it at a flea market in Pennsylvania 40 years ago. Thought it was part of an old printing press.”

Printing press? That gave me a lead.

Back at home, I cleaned it up, took some photos from all angles, and started my sleuthing mission.

Step 2: Search the Internet Rabbit Hole

🔍 Google Image Search

No luck. Uploading the photo to reverse image search brought up a bizarre mix of can openers, early 1900s lathes, and even a few steampunk fan art designs.

📚 Antique Forums & Reddit

I posted it in a few places:

r/whatisthisthing
An old tools Facebook group
A vintage collector’s forum

Within a day, I had responses ranging from:

“That’s a spaghetti twirler.”
“Looks like an old shoemaker’s skiver.”
“I think it’s a cigar cutter for industrial use.”
“Definitely part of an old meat grinder.”

Each answer sounded plausible… but none quite matched all the features.

Then one message caught my eye:

“That’s a tabletop ribbon curling machine from the early 1900s. Florists used it to curl fabric or paper ribbon for packaging.”

I was skeptical… until I found a match in a 1912 trade catalog.

The Big Reveal: It’s a Vintage Ribbon Curler!

Turns out, the object is an antique mechanical ribbon curler, used by florists, gift shops, and general stores in the late 1800s and early 1900s to curl wide decorative ribbons for flower arrangements and packaging.

Here’s how it works:

The clamp base attached it to a counter or workbench.
A length of ribbon was fed between the blade and the gear wheel.
As the crank was turned, the friction and tension caused the ribbon to curl tightly, similar to how scissors curl gift ribbon today.

This tool predated mass-produced plastic curling ribbon and scissor curls. Back when most decorations were made from fabric ribbon, this machine gave them that fancy twist effortlessly.

Mind blown.

The Fascinating History of Ribbon Curlers

Let’s dive deeper into this forgotten piece of craftsmanship. These little-known devices were quite common in:

Florist shops
Gift wrap counters
Hat shops (milliners)
Funeral homes and wedding boutiques

In the Victorian and Edwardian eras, packaging was an art form. Everything from letters to bonnets was adorned with hand-curled ribbon. Before cheap plastics, decorations were often made from silk, satin, or stiffened paper. Curling them by hand with scissors wasn’t always precise—especially for high-volume needs.

Thus, the mechanical ribbon curler became a specialty tool.

Some were ornate, with brass handles and wrought-iron bases. Others were simple but functional, like the one I found—practical, utilitarian, and built to last decades.

Why You’ve Probably Never Seen One

By the mid-20th century, packaging trends shifted. Florists began using plastic cellophane wrap, ready-made bows, and mass-produced curling ribbon, which required only a pair of scissors. Ribbon curlers quickly fell out of favor.

Now, they’re considered:

Obsolete industrial tools
Rare collectibles
Niche decor pieces for vintage enthusiasts

Even among antique collectors, only a handful are familiar with them. They often sit unrecognized in flea markets or tool sheds—mistaken for food slicers or part of a manual printing press.

Groceries

So, What’s It Worth?

After learning its identity, I was curious about its value.

I checked antique tool sites, Etsy, and eBay. Turns out, vintage ribbon curlers (especially in working condition) can sell for $40 to $250, depending on the brand, age, and aesthetic.

Mine? Based on its wear, design, and materials, it was likely made between 1890 and 1920, and might be worth around $75 to $100.

Not bad for a $2 yard sale find!

What Can You Do With It Today?

Sure, it’s no longer a common tool, but this ribbon curler still has some potential:

✔️ Home Decor

Mounted on a shelf or table, it adds a vintage industrial charm—especially in:

Craft rooms
Rustic kitchens
Boutiques or flower shops

✔️ Educational Use

Great conversation starter for:

History classes
Tool museums
Makerspaces

✔️ Craft Revival

With a little trial and error, it can still curl modern ribbons. If you’re into:

DIY gift wrapping
Vintage-inspired events
Handmade goods

…this could become a functional tool again.

Lessons From the Mystery Object

This strange discovery reminded me of something important:

Not everything forgotten is useless.
Not every strange object is trash.
Sometimes, the oddest things have the richest stories.

We often throw away or overlook things just because we don’t recognize them. But each item from the past carries a legacy of craftsmanship, purpose, and invention. Whether it’s a ribbon curler or a cobbler’s tool, these relics are time capsules from another era.

Still Curious? How to Identify Strange Objects

Found something weird in your attic or a flea market? Here are a few tips for identifying mystery items:

1. Post on Forums

Reddit’s r/whatisthisthing
Facebook groups like “Antique Tool Collectors”
Online communities like Stack Exchange or Quora

2. Use Reverse Image Search

Upload a photo to Google or TinEye to see if similar images exist.

3. Check Antique Catalogs

Online archives or Google Books sometimes have old trade catalogs from hardware stores, farm supply companies, or manufacturers.

4. Visit a Local Museum or Tool Shop

You’d be surprised how helpful local historians or small museum curators can be.

Final Thoughts

What started as a simple yard sale curiosity turned into a journey through industrial history, obscure tools, and the forgotten art of hand-curled ribbon. My strange mystery object wasn’t just an odd chunk of metal—it was a piece of the past.

So the next time you spot something weird at a garage sale, don’t walk past it. Pick it up, ask questions, and do a little digging. You never know what you might uncover.

And hey… maybe you’ll prove me wrong next time.