A questioner said:
Found in my new basement. Appear to be solid metal. About 3”x3” square. No wires. Mounted by the ceiling
More from the questioner:
Bought a new house built in 1964. This is a basement room added in 1969. Original owner was an engineer and he added all sorts of quirky bells and whistles. I asked the people we bought the house from (not the original owner) if they knew what these were and they said they didn’t know.
These appear to be solid and perhaps machined. Mounted to the ceiling rafters. No wires or anything connecting to them. Could be magnetic I guess? No idea what they are for or what they do
Some of the people opinions on it:
u/nitro479: “Look like magnets to me.”
These_Ad_3138: “I guarantee one of the neighbors knows what it’s for. Last house I bought I couldn’t find access to the crawl space under the house. I looked for a month and nothing. Finally asked a neighbor who came over and slid out a large built-in cabinet in the garage. There was a trap door under it that went to the crawl space. There is zero chance I would have found it on my own.”
naturaldrewsaster: “Are they dampeners perhaps to silence vibration or something?”
ChumbaJB (OP): “My title describes the thing. Bought a new house built in 1964. This is a basement room added in 1969. Original owner was an engineer and he added all sorts of quirky bells and whistles. I asked the people we bought the house from (not the original owner) if they knew what these were and they said they didn’t know. These appear to be solid and perhaps machined. Mounted to the ceiling rafters. No wires or anything connecting to them. Could be magnetic I guess? No idea what they are for or what they do.”
flightwatcher45: “Unscrew one.”
Full_Disk_1463: “Magnets for storage.”
midnight_cowboy: “If that is a water line under the magnets in that one picture, could it be some kind of water purification attempt?”
Otto_botz: “A magnet for guns maybe?”
GibberishSmurf: “I’ve seen square magnets on the back of speakers or inside speaker boxes? Like subwoofers or musical amps. Was the previous owner a musician or disc jockey? Look up CTS square speaker magnet.”
AbelianCommuter: “What is directly upstairs from the magnets? Varying the magnets’ strength on ‘a thing’ upstairs could explain why they’re hung there. Just riffing here. I lean toward the ‘used to hang tools’ crowd.”
00notmyrealname00: “If it’s above a workbench, it’s almost certainly for hanging mason jars. Typically, one would screw them in, but that compromises the integrity of the seal. Given that the previous owner had ready access to magnets, and the proximity to each other, I’d say I’m 95% on this answer.”
Spud9090: “I’d have to take one down and disassemble it. There may be screws holding it together on the underside, maybe even a nameplate.”
What do you think? Let us know in the comment!
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When moving into a new home, one often anticipates uncovering a few surprises – maybe a forgotten piece of furniture or an old photograph tucked away in a corner. However, for one new homeowner, the discovery in their basement was far more puzzling and intriguing.
The Discovery
Nestled in the dark recesses of the basement, mounted near the ceiling, were several small, solid metal objects. Each one measured approximately 3 inches by 3 inches, perfectly square. These enigmatic items had no visible wires, markings, or apparent purpose. Their solid metal composition suggested durability and perhaps an important function, but their context left many questions unanswered.
The Investigation
Curiosity led the homeowner to seek answers. Initial thoughts ranged from remnants of an old security system to parts of a now-defunct heating system. Yet, the lack of wires or any obvious connections to other basement features made these theories seem less likely.
Seeking professional insight, the homeowner contacted a local handyman experienced with older houses. Upon inspection, the handyman was equally baffled, noting that while they were securely mounted, there was no clear indication of their use or origin.
Expert Opinions
Next, a call was made to a historical home preservation expert. This specialist suggested that the objects could be part of an old communication system or early 20th-century home automation features. However, without additional context or documentation, this remained speculative.
The homeowner then turned to the internet, posting pictures and descriptions on forums dedicated to historical home renovations and mysteries. Responses poured in, with suggestions ranging from components of a pre-war radio system to anchors for a now-removed pulley-based laundry drying system.
Unraveling the Mystery
Despite numerous theories, the true nature of these metal objects remains elusive. Their solid construction and strategic placement imply a specific function, yet their isolation and lack of connectivity puzzle even seasoned experts.
One intriguing possibility that gained traction online was that they might be part of an early experimental home automation or alarm system, designed to be out of sight and out of reach, operating mechanically rather than electrically. Alternatively, they could have been mounting brackets for a long-gone piece of equipment, now lost to time.
The Takeaway
The discovery of these metal objects highlights the mysteries that can lie hidden within our homes, remnants of previous eras with purposes that have faded from common knowledge. For now, the homeowner has decided to leave the objects in place, a nod to the home’s enigmatic past and a conversation starter for visitors.
As technology and home features continue to evolve, these small, solid metal squares serve as a reminder of the ingenuity and innovation of previous generations. Whether their purpose is ever fully understood or not, they add a layer of historical intrigue to the home, connecting the present with the unknown stories of the past.