People Explain What These 93 Strange And Weird Things In Old Homes Are (New Pics)

What you’re looking at is most likely an old radiator pipe cover or a decorative steam pipe casing. These were used in older homes with steam or hot water heating systems. The rounded, bulbous top often capped vertical pipes to prevent burns and add a “decorative” flair (though, in this case, it may unintentionally resemble… other things).
These pieces were often made of wood, plaster, or ceramic and painted to match the trim. It could also be a remnant of an antique gas lamp system or another utility that was later sealed off.
Bottom line: it’s probably an innocent old pipe cover with very unfortunate geometry.

This hook may serve as an attachment point for equine-drawn vehicles or horses in general

Well pump possible a sump pump but am leaning more at actual pump motor. That's an electric style one it looks like the gas ones is pretty much once ya got it going it went till it ran out of gas or if ya stopped it ya self an shut it down. I got a dozen or so of those old style motors gas an electric from grandpa I don't really know much about em still learning on em

Duct bank to support the foundation from moving in from the weight of the soil outside the wall. Typical old type build

It’s a nut and rod that runs down the center of the post and secures it to the subfloor below…. You may be able to see the opposite end looking up between the joists in the basement.
Also, sometimes the homes architectural drawings were placed in the newel post for safekeeping. It happened occasionally with some vintage houses

That’s a tandem-parallel outlet. They can be used with modern parallel-blade plugs, but at the time, tandem-blade plugs were also in use and were common enough that outlets were made which could accept both plug types.
This specific one is probably from the 1920s, made by GE.
The visible part of the outlet is made of hard rubber and is not burnt, but has always been black.

Probably the main water shutoff. I've seen this as a way to shut off water to the house when it's in the crawlspace or other inconvenient place. It could also just be for a specific run or fixture.

It’s how you controlled the furnace in the basement without going in the basement

In the middle of the dining room floor, it’s definitely a servant call button that sat under the dining table and the host/hostess could tap it with their toe to summon servants discreetly.

It’s a Saxon game where these were painted differently and made to look like animals then catapulted against walls and wooden buildings..if you were successful you would proceed to next level

I ‘ve often seen this in older houses, and in sheds and summer- kitchens. This was an economy. The chimney going through the attic and roof had to be brick for fire safety. But bricks cost money, so they were used only where required.

My guess, to tell the guys in the basement, to keep stoking the furnace and full steam ahead!