It stood in the corner of an abandoned house, tall and silent.
A heavy metal cabinet. Rusted hinges. A single stool bolted to the floor.
The inside walls were lined with rows of empty lightbulb sockets.
The person who discovered it posted photos online with a simple question:
“Found in an abandoned house. Manufacturer is Burdick. About 4 feet tall and lots of lightbulbs on the inside. Anybody know what it is?”
The answers didn’t come right away.
But when they did, the purpose of the machine surprised nearly everyone.
Page 1 — The Object That Looked More Like A Horror Prop Than Equipment
At first glance, the device looked ominous.
A narrow cabinet, just large enough for a person to sit inside.
The interior was reflective, metallic, and claustrophobic.
The stool suggested someone had once been placed inside and told to stay still.
Many people speculated wildly:
- An old interrogation device
- Some kind of industrial testing chamber
- A bizarre home-built experiment
The setting didn’t help.
Abandoned house.
Decades of dust.
Rust creeping along every seam.
But one detail stood out.
The name: Burdick.
That clue sent knowledgeable users digging.
Read what people uncovered about the Burdick company ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Page 2 — The Manufacturer Changed Everything
One commenter found a reference that shifted the discussion instantly.
Burdick wasn’t a random manufacturer.
They were known for making medical equipment.
That revelation reframed the entire object.
A user cautiously speculated:
“Found a reference to a Burdick company that made medical equipment. Maybe a tanning or heat therapy booth for children?”
Others weren’t convinced yet.
The design still felt extreme.
Why so many bulbs?
Why such an enclosed space?
Then another user stepped in with something concrete.
“Here they are in use.”
They posted historical references.
Including a book written by the man who developed the machines.
The mystery finally had a name.
Read the confirmed answer — and what this machine was really built to do ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Page 3 — The Answer: Light Therapy (But Not The Kind You’re Thinking Of)
The device wasn’t for interrogation.
It wasn’t experimental torture.
And it wasn’t homemade.
It was a form of light therapy.
Specifically:
- Infrared light therapy
- Ultraviolet (UV) light therapy
Burdick manufactured medical light cabinets used in hospitals and clinics.
Patients would sit inside while the bulbs emitted controlled light.
According to users familiar with the practice:
“Looks like UV light therapy for skin disease. I’ve used the modern equivalent in a hospital setting.”
These machines were used to treat conditions that responded to light exposure.
At the time, this was considered cutting-edge medicine.
But there’s a reason they look so alien today.
Read why these machines fell out of use ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Page 4 — Why Devices Like This Disappeared
Early light therapy machines were powerful.
But they were also:
- Bulky
- Heat-intensive
- Difficult to precisely control
Over time, medical technology evolved.
More targeted devices replaced full-body cabinets.
Safety standards improved.
Modern light therapy units are smaller, cooler, and far more precise.
The old cabinets?
They were retired.
Some ended up in storage.
Some were scrapped.
And a few—like this one—were simply left behind.
Which is why stumbling upon one today feels unsettling.
It’s not just a machine.
It’s a snapshot of a time when medicine looked very different.
Read the final takeaway — and what to do if you ever find one of these ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Page 5 — The Takeaway: A Forgotten Chapter Of Medical History
What looks frightening now was once routine.
Patients sat inside these cabinets under medical supervision.
Doctors believed — correctly, in some cases — that controlled light exposure could help.
If you ever encounter one of these devices:
- Don’t power it on
- Don’t remove components
- Don’t assume it’s safe to use
Many old light therapy machines used bulbs that emitted intense UV radiation.
Without proper controls, they could be harmful.
Today, their value is historical.
They represent an era of medical experimentation, innovation, and learning.
And finding one abandoned in a house?
It’s a reminder that progress leaves artifacts behind.
Some look ordinary.
Some look terrifying.
But all of them tell a story.
