What is it? Game 87

1. notBob
   January 8th, 2009 at 7:21 am

   It's a shoe shine stand with built in tip jar. It's made out of Brass.

2. ChrisW
   January 8th, 2009 at 7:44 am

   The prototype for the internet (before they switched to tubes).

3. AO
   January 8th, 2009 at 7:46 am

   Step 1: Cut a hole in a box.

4. Hezzawezza
   January 8th, 2009 at 8:01 am

   A ballot box

5. Brian
   January 8th, 2009 at 8:12 am

   Money box. Like a rake box at a poker table. A percentage of each pot in poker is "raked" to the house. The dealer places the raked chips in a locked box that is periodically taken away and replaced with an empty one.

6. LightningCrash
   January 8th, 2009 at 8:38 am

   It is a way to remind me not to use Google Image search when I'm searching for variations of "coin slot."

7. Chris
   January 8th, 2009 at 8:44 am

   Solitary confinement for a law breaking hamster.

8. JohnP
   January 8th, 2009 at 8:52 am

   A piggy bank!
   if pigs were box-shaped and made of metal

9. Randall
   January 8th, 2009 at 8:52 am

   This is a circa 1914 biscuit voucher validator. The British Expeditionary Force in France maintained a high standard of accounts even in the forward positions, and between mass suicide charges against german machine guns would 'brew up' tea and munch on 'knackers'. Each surviving soldier was issued 1 and 1/3 tins of tea biscuits each day and on receipt had to sign and cancel a 2 inch by 3 inch papercard vouchsafe using this device.

   It was common conjecture at the time that if such diligence was applied to other aspects of the military endeavor, the horrendous losses of the conflict (World War One for you post 1980 high school graduates) may have been avoided.

10. jugsi
    January 8th, 2009 at 8:59 am

    i guess it's something to sharp knifes. insert the blade and....taram!!!

11. uptonty
    January 8th, 2009 at 9:03 am

    it's an indulgence box ... you used to be able to pay your way into heaven in the Catholic church

12. Evan
    January 8th, 2009 at 9:03 am

    First one got it right, shoe shine box.

13. chris
    January 8th, 2009 at 9:11 am

    Schrodeinger's Box

14. Craig
    January 8th, 2009 at 9:11 am

    It's a coin-operated torture box. You stick an appendage of your choice in one end, drop in a coin, and watch the magic happen!

15. Roger G.
    January 8th, 2009 at 9:24 am

    It's a box to collect nickels on a bus, or more likely, a trolley car.

16. Robert
    January 8th, 2009 at 10:11 am

    Arcade coin box.

17. votemom
    January 8th, 2009 at 10:15 am

    yes, shoe shine thingy.

18. Phil
    January 8th, 2009 at 10:28 am

    Drop box for a gambling table for the house rake off. the slotted opening sits flush with a slot in the table top.

19. Zachary Lewis
    January 8th, 2009 at 10:35 am

    It's the top of a newspaper stand. Put the coin in, the back (not shown) unlocks so you can open it and get a newspaper.

20. MichaelDTY
    January 8th, 2009 at 10:35 am

    it's the first lunch box ever created.

21. Missy
    January 8th, 2009 at 11:23 am

    Bus fare collection box.

22. Anne
    January 8th, 2009 at 11:36 am

    An early prototype for the "magic Fingers" bed massage

23. Nigel
    January 8th, 2009 at 11:39 am

    It's for miners to put their token in as they go down the pit.

24. Screen Sleuth
    January 8th, 2009 at 11:50 am

    The new briefcase prototype for Deal or No Deal? Gosh this could be cool. Those rail-skinny models wouldn't be able to open them, but they were always pointless anyway.

25. lisa goodeill
    January 8th, 2009 at 12:11 pm

    it's a disappointment/amusement box. They were designed to disappoint slow-witted children who eagerly insert coins and push the button. When nothing happens and the children cry, the cruel adults are amused. All in all, nice way to piss away an otherwise boring afternoon in Victorian times

26. Leif
    January 8th, 2009 at 12:13 pm

    It's obviously a monkey.

27. name taken
    January 8th, 2009 at 12:23 pm

    You are clearly mistaken. It's a bannana

28. Corinne
    January 8th, 2009 at 12:25 pm

    Steampunk payphone.

29. freakoid9000
    January 8th, 2009 at 12:53 pm

    its a coin operated snuff box... money in... snuff out... used to stand on shop counters...

30. chris m
    January 8th, 2009 at 1:03 pm

    skee ball game coin box

31. Murat Tunal?
    January 8th, 2009 at 1:22 pm

    This is a shoe shine stand actually shoe shine boys still using it in Turkey. (Of course wooden ones)

32. Scott-O
    January 8th, 2009 at 1:35 pm

    Oprah's new lunch box?

33. Riggy
    January 8th, 2009 at 2:12 pm

    isn't that the thing they trapped ghosts in in Ghostbusters?

34. Bobby the K
    January 8th, 2009 at 2:12 pm

    ~

    I think it's a fare box for transit use. This way when their route is done the operators could just take the fares with them when a new driver comes on.

35. Guybrush Threepwood
    January 8th, 2009 at 2:19 pm

    It's a golden metal box with a handle. And a slot. And a thingie by its side.

36. Mother Mary
    January 8th, 2009 at 2:39 pm

    it's a lock box for votes.

37. Christophe
    January 8th, 2009 at 3:05 pm

    It's a trumpet. Blow through the hole, and press the button.

38. TeaFizz
    January 8th, 2009 at 3:13 pm

    I think that's what the internet's inventor would refer to as a "lock-box"

39. TeaFizz
    January 8th, 2009 at 3:14 pm

    Damn... Mother Mary beat me to it

40. aoabernathy
    January 8th, 2009 at 3:48 pm

    It's Al Gore's famed "lock box" that all the social security money would have gone into. Clearly it's not being used.

41. Ryan H
    January 8th, 2009 at 4:14 pm

    Clearly this is a Steampunk Ghostbusters trap.

42. lordunger
    January 8th, 2009 at 4:49 pm

    Whatever it is (piggybank?), it is on a marble surface.

43. uggabooga
    January 8th, 2009 at 6:02 pm

    Ballot box.

44. Adam Mcneish
    January 8th, 2009 at 6:19 pm

    Admission / carnival ticket dispenser. One ticket per button push.

45. Jessica
    January 8th, 2009 at 7:29 pm

    It's a 1981 prototype cellular telephone.

46. AJ
    January 8th, 2009 at 7:44 pm

    It's a parrot training box.

    Insert a baby parrot inside on its back, secured with tiny leather straps. Close the lid to place the bird in solitary confinement.

    At feeding time, if needed, press the button to lower a soft brush over the parrot's face to wake him up. Then say "Polly want a cracker?" and insert a cracker through the feeding slot and let go when you feel the bird grab the other end of the cracker.

    You eventually train the bird to say "Polly want a cracker?" without your saying it yourself, and without using the button.

    Because parrots are highly intelligent animals that require near-constant mental stimulation, the box is most effective if you leave the bird inside for several weeks until he is insane and readily repeats "Polly want a cracker?" with an incessant nervousness in his voice.

47. Brent
    January 8th, 2009 at 8:02 pm

    A movie theater ticket puncher.

48. Fadhil
    January 8th, 2009 at 9:05 pm

    Its a donation box

49. Shrike
    January 8th, 2009 at 10:55 pm

    This is one of the first coin operated machines, called an honor box, circa 1800s I think. It was used at pubs. Someone would put a coin in, pull on a lever, and a drawer with tobacco would pull out. You would take your fair share of tobacco and push the drawer back in. The coin is kept in a compartment.

50. Shrike
    January 8th, 2009 at 10:57 pm

    Apologies for posting the URL.. I missed that

51. Admiral Ackbar
    January 8th, 2009 at 11:04 pm

    It's a trap!!

52. Lisa
    January 9th, 2009 at 2:25 pm

    The first piggy bank ever created.

53. Moon
    January 9th, 2009 at 3:09 pm

    Geez, Randal, if that isn't it, you're the greatest BSer EVER!

54. Alex
    January 9th, 2009 at 5:58 pm

    Randall IS the greatest! A few of these really made me chuckle (magic finger, disappointment/amusement box). Bwahahaha!

    Congrats to Shrike who guessed right, though he posted a URL since there's no prize I guess it really doesn't matter ...

    Good of Admiral Ackbar to make an appearance!

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