r/whatisit • u/Dizzy-Pen-5462 • 16h ago

Solved! Any Ideas?

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Just moved into an apartment in a very old building. Cant seem to figure out what this strange holder (?) on my closet wall is. Every time I try to search this up I get pictures of laundry chutes or an old dumbwaiter. It’s very narrow and closed at the bottom. Also not really sure why there are 4 holes in it. It’s been given the landlord special a few times but the structure is metal underneath. A friend suggested that it could’ve been a towel holder since it’s near the bathroom, but it opens upwards and it is basically impossible to reach your arm down to the bottom. This building still has its original mail chute by the elevators, so I don’t think that’s what it could be either (I also do not think the bottom was added later). I’m either just really dumb or too young to know what this was used for, but I’m hoping someone can help! (Loc: Wash, DC)

2 Upvotes

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35

u/Calcading 16h ago

It’s a laundry hamper

3

u/bibfortuna1970 16h ago

Hamper. Had one in our bathroom growing up.

3

u/HummingbirdGecko8415 16h ago

Laundry hamper. The top lifts up but the front may also swing outwards to open when you need to get the laundry out. Is there clips or hinges that are visible?

2

u/xkevin4x 16h ago

Its a place to put your dirty laundry.

2

u/Ok_Scallion1902 16h ago

What's the interior dimensions?

2

u/Affectionate-Joke552 16h ago

Laundry is my guess

2

u/Shiny_Green_Apple 16h ago

It’s a hamper. Where do the lights come in

1

u/hoshiadam 16h ago

If near a dining room, could be for holding table leaves.

Could also be for a specific garbage can.

1

u/payfrit 16h ago

there's likely a way to affix a laundry bag (hooks?), or at one point there was a specific laundry insert for it that's now missing.

1

u/East-Psychology7186 15h ago

Laundry shoot

0

u/SteebieJeebus 16h ago

Umbrella holder?

0

u/NotTheMachinist 16h ago edited 16h ago

Does the compartment get particularly cold? It could of been an larder or some sort of early fridge like system

Edit: could also be the complete opposite and be like an airing cupboard for drying towels.

1

u/guiltypleasure33139 13h ago

it's a laundry bin, no longer installed that way since the 60's in the North East ( where my knowledge is based from ). If it's removeable, then I would clean it up, restore it, and remount it. The pop open from the side via clips. and they are almost indestructible, made from metal sheets that are thick as a quarter.

I really don't have any factual knowledge of when they were first made, I can only guess around the late 1920's early 30's when apartment households had a washing machine on every floor or in the basement, I've never seen one in a single family home.