NEATORAMA HOME | LITE/MOBILE VERSION | BEST OF NEATORAMA

What Is It? Game 116

By Alex in What Is It on Nov 19, 2009 at 7:37 am

Today’s collaboration with the What is it? Blog brings us this …. alligator?! Actually, this object has a specific function. Do you know what it is?

Place your guess in the comment section. The first correct guess, as well as the funniest (but ultimately wrong) guess will win a T-shirt from the Neatorama Shop. Please let others play and post no URLs or web links. Doing so will forfeit your entry.

For more clues, check out the What is it? Blog. Good luck!

Update 11/20/09 – the answer is A cast iron alligator match safe, text on its back says “Monon Route”, on its legs “Cincinnati, Louisville, Indianapolis, and Atlanta”, on its head “Chicago” and on the tail “Florida”. It advertised the Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville Railway, which later changed its name to The Monon Route, it served the previously mentioned locations.

Congratulations to Edward who got it right first (again) and to pwscott who made me chuckle with “steampunk pez.”

Tags: alligator

FROM THE NEATORAMA SHOP

COMMENT

Roxanne
Nov 19th, 2009 at 7:40 am
nutcracker
Tim Giachetti
Nov 19th, 2009 at 7:41 am
It is a warmer. Put some coals in the beasties back and place it by your seat, or warm your bed sheets before going to bed.
Lauren
Nov 19th, 2009 at 7:42 am
Early stapler. Big, big fail.
Tedba
Nov 19th, 2009 at 7:47 am
Oil lamp?
Jim
Nov 19th, 2009 at 7:50 am
A "joke item" that you hide in your garden and scare the daylights out of your wife when she goes to work in it.
Jerri
Nov 19th, 2009 at 7:52 am
Boot scraper?
Zanuha
Nov 19th, 2009 at 7:59 am
That's got to be an instrument of torture.
Edward
Nov 19th, 2009 at 8:00 am
Going for two in a row: Match Holder also once called a Vesta.
padieg
Nov 19th, 2009 at 8:02 am
Me thinks it's a door stopper, to keep a door open against the wind.
Tim Giachetti
Nov 19th, 2009 at 8:04 am
Very good Edward. I think you're right.
say wut
Nov 19th, 2009 at 8:05 am
The Grinning Alligator was a cast iron medieval torture device. Rocking it back and forth a few feet in front of a restrained prisoner's face, a Vatican-appointed Inquisitor would use a hidden switch (not visible) to raise and lower the upper piece, all the while chanting, "[I]nterior crocodile alligator, I drive a Chevrolet movie theater." This was often accompanied by a small choir and/or Papal dance troupe. Invariably, the victim would eventually be induced into a near-catatonic state, and with no further urging, confess to any number of alleged crimes.
ROb
Nov 19th, 2009 at 8:06 am
This little guy is a mold for cooking cornbread.
peepee
Nov 19th, 2009 at 8:18 am
nutcracker, or boot wiper
JoshWallis
Nov 19th, 2009 at 8:18 am
I'm going with nutcracker.
themonkey
Nov 19th, 2009 at 8:18 am
a cast iron humidifier? like the ones you usually see shaped as dragons....
Sultik
Nov 19th, 2009 at 8:21 am
Incense sticks holder
asthevinylspins
Nov 19th, 2009 at 8:24 am
I think it's a shoehorn; my mom had something very similar when I was little, and I think I remember it was a shoehorn.
Kidijs
Nov 19th, 2009 at 8:26 am
Knife sharpener?
Unblinking Brown Eye
Nov 19th, 2009 at 8:26 am
It's one of those things you put in water and it grows in size. Might be one that came in a plastic egg from a vending machine but doesn't look curled up enough.
KpQuePasa
Nov 19th, 2009 at 8:28 am
A bank (I was going to say piggy bank... but 'gator bank?)
russell
Nov 19th, 2009 at 8:29 am
The primary functions of an alligator are to eat water buffalo and wrestle with creepy TV show hosts.
messwav
Nov 19th, 2009 at 8:30 am
Holy socks, we have one of those in the dining room!
messwav
Nov 19th, 2009 at 8:33 am
Wait, actually, the one in the dining room IS a nutcracker, but this one's different. They look to be part of a set... This must be the turkey baster.
Samantha
Nov 19th, 2009 at 8:34 am
It's a boot remover you keep outside your door, to pry off your togs from the ankle, like if your shoes are muddy or stuck on, or if you cannot bend over to take them off yourself. You angle the ankle of your footwear against his upper "lip" and pull backwards, thus tugging off your shoe with ease.

Shirt size large, please
Peter Drozd
Nov 19th, 2009 at 8:34 am
This may sound odd, but I think my family had one of these. It is a covered ash tray.
Aglathan
Nov 19th, 2009 at 8:42 am
hey that one i think i know (my grandpa is a pharmacist)
and he has one of those

if im not wrong they use this thing to press medicine into pills

(but i actually never asked so i could be really wrong)
Danp
Nov 19th, 2009 at 8:45 am
Ashtray!
nathandr
Nov 19th, 2009 at 8:46 am
It's a pocket gator. You put them in your pockets to prevent people from reaching in and stealing your things. Someone tries to steal your wallet and, presto! you now have a wallet and some fingers in your pocket.
Foreigner1
Nov 19th, 2009 at 8:47 am
A coffin from some region near Togo in Africa.
gary
Nov 19th, 2009 at 8:48 am
you can see a seem to open it up
i bet its a nut cracker or an ashtray

it also looks like you store matches inside then strike them on its back
Manticore
Nov 19th, 2009 at 8:53 am
iono, but it looks like you can put your weed in there.
Aglathan
Nov 19th, 2009 at 9:06 am
my mother told it is a Cork maker (but the photos make it look like something else entirely)
John the Third
Nov 19th, 2009 at 9:06 am
CHA CHA CHA CHIA!!
Chessfreak
Nov 19th, 2009 at 9:08 am
I think it's a musical instrument. There should be a stick that goes with it, and you rub the stick along the ridges on the back of the gator
K!P
Nov 19th, 2009 at 9:10 am
nutcracker, at least thats where my grandma uses it for.
John Dufresne
Nov 19th, 2009 at 9:23 am
it's a nutcracker
nick
Nov 19th, 2009 at 9:24 am
match holder... for fireplace matches.
Mandybee27
Nov 19th, 2009 at 9:26 am
i think the teeth hold cigarettes
Greyhound mama
Nov 19th, 2009 at 9:34 am
It's a cast iron door stop.
Jaz_Allen
Nov 19th, 2009 at 9:37 am
A truly useful item, a vesta (match holder), ashtray and match striker all in one beautifully presented crocodile form, I would say circa 1860 English design.
Nalden
Nov 19th, 2009 at 9:41 am
It's a cookie jar!
lolo
Nov 19th, 2009 at 9:44 am
It's a cork press. These were used in a recent past in pharmacies to make cork stopper fit the medicine bottles.
Skylark
Nov 19th, 2009 at 9:44 am
spittoon?
cheeky
Nov 19th, 2009 at 9:50 am
Is it one of those little musical things? Like the wooden frogs where you run the stick over it's back and it makes a croaking sound? Looks like the stick would sit in it's mouth.
Oni
Nov 19th, 2009 at 10:00 am
Boot Jack
Arboriginal
Nov 19th, 2009 at 10:01 am
Boot Jack
Amanda949
Nov 19th, 2009 at 10:02 am
A clothes pin
bktan
Nov 19th, 2009 at 10:06 am
ancient money, coin
Jake.w.B
Nov 19th, 2009 at 10:06 am
its a butter holder, specifically for roling corn on the cob in.
noah rodenbeek
Nov 19th, 2009 at 10:10 am
it's a cast-iron piggy bank!
Tami
Nov 19th, 2009 at 10:10 am
nutcracker
SarahW
Nov 19th, 2009 at 10:13 am
I'm guessing it's a match holder. Matches can be struck on the gators mouth.
Lauren
Nov 19th, 2009 at 10:14 am
Ashtray
kazanjig
Nov 19th, 2009 at 10:14 am
It's a boot scraper to get mud/dirt/snow off your boots before coming inside.
Stephen
Nov 19th, 2009 at 10:22 am
It's a candle snuffer.
amy m
Nov 19th, 2009 at 10:22 am
pecan cracker
nocatnocradle
Nov 19th, 2009 at 10:27 am
Cigar rest, because alligators love a good Cuban.
Goober
Nov 19th, 2009 at 10:37 am
it's an ashtray
Miss Cellania
Nov 19th, 2009 at 10:42 am
That is an instrument of torture known as "The Alligator".
Scotty A
Nov 19th, 2009 at 10:44 am
Maybe you keep a lit cigar in it, and the smoke would come out of his mouth all spooky like.
michael jordan
Nov 19th, 2009 at 10:47 am
I had one of these as a child. It is a nutcracker which doubles as a doorstop.
Bert13
Nov 19th, 2009 at 10:56 am
Mud Butler!
Xyzzy?
Nov 19th, 2009 at 11:09 am
An alligator extermination grenade. You place it by a pond, the vicious alligators take it in a s a child, then when they open its mouth to feed it... BAM!
Taters
Nov 19th, 2009 at 11:09 am
It's a device used to remove Boy Scouts from horse's hooves
Eric Olson
Nov 19th, 2009 at 11:11 am
It is a cast iron nutcracker.
Me
Nov 19th, 2009 at 11:18 am
Boot scraper?
apetz1
Nov 19th, 2009 at 11:18 am
To me, it looks vaguely like some sort of covered box-- a hinged covered box.
Rob Henschel
Nov 19th, 2009 at 11:35 am
I believe it is just an old school mail holder. Or just a paper holder. At least thats what my Grams used it for. She had it on her desk with envelopes and paper clamped in its mouth. So that's my guess.
Bella
Nov 19th, 2009 at 11:39 am
A musical instrument that makes a noise similar to an alligator when you rub a stick on its back (I think so)
casey.in.co
Nov 19th, 2009 at 11:45 am
the top flips up and it becomes an ashtray!
xultar
Nov 19th, 2009 at 11:50 am
Match Keeper
Rick
Nov 19th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Jake.w.B beat me to it. Yum corn on the cob
Silfax
Nov 19th, 2009 at 11:57 am
Not a cigar rest, but rather a cigar saver. Yoo place your unfinished stogie into the beastie and close the back. When you are ready to finish your smoke, you just open the back and relight.
Jourdan
Nov 19th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
His body is a paperweight and the top half is a letter opener
Evan
Nov 19th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
It's used to hold or hid a key.
rosefish
Nov 19th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
My oh my, it's an alligator. Du-uh!
rosefish
Nov 19th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
No, seriously, I think it's a pine nut opener. You know, when you cook them and you just don't want to open it with your teeth. Handy.
kaylynne
Nov 19th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
an aquarium decoration? hooks up to an air hose & closes & opens?
Davis Freeberg
Nov 19th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
It a serving dish for dog food
helimx
Nov 19th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Is it an Ink well??
JDK
Nov 19th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Corn-cob holder.
BScane
Nov 19th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Door stop. However it could be, no it's a door stop.
pwscott
Nov 19th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Steampunk Pez? Actually I think it's one of those covered ashtrays.
Howie13
Nov 19th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
a novelty ashtray
bgalasso
Nov 19th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Is it an paper embosser? A candy mold?
tonberry2k
Nov 19th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Does it hold toothpicks and you press down on the mouth to reveal the cache beneath its back?
Thomas Garten
Nov 19th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
It's a foot warmer, put some coals inside warm your tootsies while you sit in your chair
SarahW
Nov 19th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
I already made my guess above (match holder), but I hope I get extra credit for naming it properly it's a "match safe".
edo8
Nov 19th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
It's part of an early Chinese time telling mechanism and with drop marbles from it's mouth with regular intervals which would indicate the passed time
SarahW
Nov 19th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
I already made my guess above (match holder), but I hope I get extra credit for naming it properly: it's a "match safe".
sirdooder
Nov 19th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
It's a Croco-file. You just place your digits in the mouth for clean, presentable nails.
Christian
Nov 19th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
It's a Steve Irwin Manta Ray Barb Puller ™
Paula R
Nov 19th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Key-hider?
renmarshall
Nov 19th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Incense holder.
Rick
Nov 19th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
It is only supposed to be used on "alligator" boots. Boot horn.
Debbie
Nov 19th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Doorstop and boot scraper.
Scotty A
Nov 19th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
It's actually an alligator call for hunters... you rest your finger in its mouth, and have your buddy stomp on the mouth, crushing your finger.
The sound of you screaming like a wounded gazelle draws the alligator out of the jungle for you to take a shot at.
RHE
Nov 19th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
It's a door knocker
Astromoof
Nov 19th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Nutcracker
Lauren
Nov 19th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
It's a cast-iron nutcracker!
Carolyn
Nov 19th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
It's a nutcracker, the nuts aren't cracked in the mouth though, you press the mouth clothed to open a hinged area in the back, place the nut inside and press down to crack the shell open.
mycomo
Nov 19th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
It's an alligator clip.
Bobby the K
Nov 19th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
~

Sex toy warmer.
Shawn
Nov 19th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
It's a Secret House Key holder for your yard or garden...you stash a spare key in it!
Maxxx
Nov 19th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
It's actually surprisingly larger than it appears in the photo - being close to life-size. And it's a crocodile not an alligator.
Its function is as a toy for young children. The child sits astride the mouth (which then closes) lifting the hinged back up two or three feet (that's about a meter, folks).
An adult then stamps, hard, upon the Croc's back (shouting, according to the original rules of the game, "Three for the Croc, Two for the child, One for the fun, now let's go WILD!")
At this point, the jaws snap open, flinging the child high into the air.
The aim of the game, then, is for the adult to catch the child before they hit the ground.
Points were awarded as follows:
No catch - minus 5 points.
Catch but child hits ground - minus 1 point.
Catch by a single limb - 1 point.
Full body-catch - 5 points.

This was sold as an education toy, in the early 1800's in Australia. The idea, it seems, was to help children to learn simple addition and subtraction while adrenaline flowed.

The game continued until a set score had been reached (The suggested amount was 10 points for younger children, up to 100 for stubborn children.
Tj Turn
Nov 19th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
I actually have one of these. It's a cigar ash tray.
John the Third
Nov 19th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Its a prop from "Frogger the Movie". Coming soon to a theatre near you.
Joufy
Nov 19th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
I used to own one. It's a door jam! Keeps the door open.
Jacqui
Nov 19th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
I think it might be an old hair straightener?
Ros
Nov 19th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
It's an alligator shaped from a chunk of graphite to be used as a pencil?
Ros
Nov 19th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
Duh. Should've looked at the link first. Gravy boat?
Evan
Nov 19th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
It is a nutcracker. I have one just like it.
Shelby
Nov 19th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
It was made to hold an alligator whistle?
Shelby
Nov 19th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
And alligator whistles do exist, I am from Orlando, Florida, the home of Gatorland (an amusement park). They make the sound of infant alligators which then lures the mother.
Bernice
Nov 19th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
Nutcracker. We have one of those. Pretty common item.
Tribak
Nov 19th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
it's a stuffed crocodile
Jinxy
Nov 19th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
I think it's a dildo case/holder.
Carolyn Lavender
Nov 19th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
I actually own this object so maybe this is not fair. But this was an object for advertising, it has a company name on it. The top is hinged and lifts up to reveal a compartment you can put things in. I store some of my jewelry in mine. And I absolutely love it and it is one of my favorite objects.
venacom
Nov 19th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
It's a coin bank.
so
Nov 19th, 2009 at 10:33 pm
it looks like it would fit a bottle of coca-cola perfectly. and if Carolyn Lavender's comment about it having advertising is true, i might (MIGHT) be on the right track...

or i'm just crazy.
Sean Lamb
Nov 19th, 2009 at 10:33 pm
An early and very unsuccessful design for a basketball.
mci209
Nov 19th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
I believe it is an ashtray/cigarette holder.
Jacob123456
Nov 19th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
nutcracker
Lauren
Nov 19th, 2009 at 11:41 pm
I have one of these masquerading as a doorstop in my laundry, but it's definitely a nut-cracker!
redwolf
Nov 20th, 2009 at 12:35 am
nutcracker
C
Nov 20th, 2009 at 2:24 am
failed design for a nipple clamp
Hampster
Nov 20th, 2009 at 4:39 am
A tinderbox!
Simonc
Nov 20th, 2009 at 7:02 am
Its a cigarette lighter. I had one when I was a kid.
ttttheo
Nov 20th, 2009 at 7:09 am
Probably a cigarette holder/ashtray.
Could also be used as a tampon dispenser....
shanta eastman
Nov 20th, 2009 at 7:16 am
ashtray
Dylan086
Nov 20th, 2009 at 8:13 am
It's definitely a cast iron ash tray made by i believe Iron Jim Dandy
12once1
Nov 20th, 2009 at 8:16 am
Its a cast iron cigar holder
kenny soler
Nov 20th, 2009 at 9:02 am
it is an air bubble doll. hook up the air hose to the alligator in your fish tank and his mouth will keep opening releasing bubbles!
Robert Doty
Nov 20th, 2009 at 9:59 am
It appears to be a mold of some type. My guess is that it's used to shape corn bread. It's obviously an alligator...which is from the south. Corn bread is also from the south. So, that's my guess! A corn bread maker shaped like an alligator. Where do I collect my prize?
greenzyme
Nov 20th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
pipe holder
Alair
Nov 20th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
CAST IRON ALLIGATOR MATCH SAFE marked “Union Iron Works Decator, Ill.” original paint L.8.5”.
BScane
Nov 20th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Its an early 1960's pooper scooper. No pun intended.
jimuk
Nov 20th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Its a nutcracker
Luke S
Nov 20th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
glasses holder
Luke S
Nov 20th, 2009 at 11:59 pm
possibly an ash tray
automatic
Nov 21st, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Early aid to diminish the sex drive in women, to be stored outside in the winter months. It's called a Shrivener.
Saudia_B
Dec 3rd, 2009 at 12:15 pm
It's a nutcracker. My nan has one pretty much identical to it!!! Awesome!!

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT

Keep track of the comments with

RSS |

| Login or Register

T-SHIRTS FROM THE NEATORAMA SHOP

CATEGORIES

Misc.

COLLABORATIONS

WRITE YOUR OWN NEATORAMA POST
Scribble, scribble ...

Scribble, scribble ...

Got a neat story? Share it with the world by writing your very own Neatorama blog post with the Upcoming Queue. Who knows, you might just win something ...

Here's how to get started:
FAQ | Tips