What Is It? game 266

It's time for the latest edition of our collaboration with the always amusing What Is It? Blog. Can you guess what this thing is? Or if not, can you make up something funny?

Place your guess in the comment section below. One guess per comment, please, though you can enter as many guesses as you'd like in separate comments. Pease do not post URLs or weblinks, as doing so will forfeit your entry. Two winners: the first correct guess and the funniest (albeit ultimately wrong) guess will win T-shirt from the NeatoShop.

Please write your T-shirt selection alongside your guess. If you don't include a selection, you forfeit the prize, okay? May we suggest the Science T-Shirt, Funny T-Shirt and Artist-Designed T-Shirts?

See another picture of the mystery object at the What Is It? Blog. Good luck!

Update: the mystery object is a fly fisherman's line stripping basket. In fly casting, there is a lot of loose line, and one of these baskets on your waist holds the extra line and keep it from getting tangled. Anker was the first with the correct answer, and wins a t-shirt from the NeatoShop! The funniest answer came from Kevin George, who said, "Early combination soap dish and ashtray. Later models included a cocktail umbrella to keep the cigarette from going out." I guess that would be necessary if you're going to smoke in the shower! So he also wins a t-shirt from the NeatoShop. Find the answers to all the mystery items of the week at the What Is It? blog.