ID these silicone promotional items!

December 26, 2007 11:52 AM

A friend in Austria sent us these silicone ... things in a Christmas package. They're clearly promotional items for this castle near Salzburg. Are they just random knickknacks, or do they have some other use?
posted by wtdoor to grab bag (16 comments total)

They appear to be vacuum-aspiration-driven beverage transfer devices.
posted by Wet Spot at 12:01 PM on December 26, 2007 [1 favorite]

Are they solid or hollow? You call 'em sticks, which makes me think solid. However, if hollow, then as Wet Spot (mildly eponysterical!) proposes, I reckon they're meant to direct the flow of fluids. The water gardens of Hellbrunn are pretty crazy—perhaps they're intended to be used to direct a spray of water at your traveling companions somehow.

My girlfriend was there last spring and doesn't recognize them, for what that's worth.

So, solid or hollow?
posted by mumkin at 12:13 PM on December 26, 2007

If they're solid (which is how it looks from your first picture), try putting them in your freezer overnight. Then take them out, and you may find that they glow as they warm up.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 12:38 PM on December 26, 2007

(What I'm thinking is that they're made of the same stuff as these guys sell.)
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 12:44 PM on December 26, 2007

They're to hold your glasses/sunglasses. Great for boating. Lick the ends of your glasses, and slide the tube on to each end.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 12:56 PM on December 26, 2007

Here's a tapered, floating type, but yours will probably float your glasses. Test it in the bath.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 1:09 PM on December 26, 2007

If they're flexible tubes, then WGP is right.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 1:09 PM on December 26, 2007

I still have my Maui Jims, which I paid an arm and a leg for a century ago in Maui, thanks to one of these.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 1:15 PM on December 26, 2007

They're flexible but solid, so not straws, and they don't float or have holes in the ends for holding sunglasses. I'll try freezing one of them overnight.
posted by wtdoor at 1:25 PM on December 26, 2007

I believe they are novelty erasers, such as this black and white one that my son received from his teacher. The one in my pic is twisted but he's gotten others which looked just like your souvenirs.
posted by jamaro at 2:32 PM on December 26, 2007

Well, "wasserspiele" (printed on the side) roughly translates to "water play". Would these be of any fun in a pool or bath?
posted by Thorzdad at 2:56 PM on December 26, 2007

Thorzdad: Schloss Hellbrunn has extensive fountains and other watery trickery. The watergardens are Die Wasserspiele.
posted by mumkin at 3:21 PM on December 26, 2007

Seconding mumkin, "Wasserspiele" is most likely a red herring referring only the fountains around the palace grounds.
posted by piratebowling at 7:40 PM on December 26, 2007

They look like novelty erasers- you see these for sale a lot at touristy places. They're often the cheapest souvenir available, along with bouncy balls, those rubber pop up caps, etc.
posted by MadamM at 9:27 PM on December 26, 2007

I'll second jamaro and MadamM; I was just in Amsterdam and noted these novelty erasers in a variety of gift shops. They're new to me, and I couldn't figure out what they were until I finally saw some with labels.
posted by obliquicity at 9:30 PM on December 26, 2007

They don't glow after being frozen or exposed to light, and they do erase pencil lead. Mystery solved. Thanks, all!
posted by wtdoor at 9:42 AM on December 27, 2007