Can you guess the January mystery tool?
Here’s the January Mystery Tool—can you figure out what it was used for? For reference, the object is 17.25 inches high, 7.5 inches wide, and a quarter inch thick.
If you think you know what it is, share your guess using the contact form below. Include your full name and the town where you live. Submissions are due by Friday, January 30, 2026. The correct answer will be revealed on Sunday, February 1st. Good luck!
Submission Form
Thank you for your response. ✨
For information, visit landisvalleymuseum.org.
Answer to the December Mystery Tool Revealed!
Most people assumed December’s Mystery Tool was actually a toy. My grandfather used to make them in his wood shop, calling it a “do-nothing machine.” Other readers chimed in with their own colorful names—bullsh*t grinder, smoke grinder, and wood stretcher, among them.
But it is, in fact, a tool. According to Jennifer Royer, curator at Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum, the object is a wooden ellipsograph, also known as a Trammel of Archimedes, used to draw ellipses. As the arm rotates, its sliding components move in such a way that the far end traces a precise elliptical path measuring roughly 20 inches wide by 15.5 inches tall. It’s a classic demonstration of elliptical motion, a principle with roots in mathematics, engineering, and architecture, used to lay out everything from planetary orbits to elegant architectural curves.
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1901 Map of Lancaster and York Counties, PAPrice range: $29.99 through $33.89
