My husband found this in his grandparents’ house. It looks like keys but doesn’t open any door in the house, and it’s quite old. What could it be?

carry surprising stories. What looks like an oddly shaped piece of metal today may once have been an essential part of a child’s favorite activity.

Before modern adjustable skates and convenient equipment became commonplace, a simple metal key helped keep old-fashioned roller skates ready for another trip down the sidewalk.

The next time you discover a mysterious object in an old drawer, take a closer look. It might not unlock a door, but it could unlock a memory of a time when a pair of metal skates, a quiet street,

There’s more to discover. Continue to the next page for the rest of this article.