This machined metal plug is a sleek and highly refined example of German engineering, copied from a medieval torture device called the ‘Pear’. Once this plug is inserted, a knob at the end of the plug is turned which slowly expands the pear ‘leaves’ which prevents the plug from being removed. The knob is then replaced with a small padlock which prevents the knob from being used again to retract the leaves. Even if the subject has the knob in his possession, he can’t use it to retract the pear until the padlock is removed.

Is this cool or what?