Combing Stores for Chignon Material

Mrs. C. L. of Studio City has been tearing her hair out in a so-far unsuccessful search for white Dynel in 27-inch length. She needs about 14 to 16 ounces, which will be made into a chignon, and it has to be Dynel. She claims that the product is not available in any store in the Los Angeles area. Can you help with this knotty problem, or will we never be able to get Mrs. L. out of our hair?

Kevin Irion of Irvine, who is the development coordinator for a multi-functional clinic in Orange County, has set himself a high goal: He wants to obtain a 1984 Olympic torch to be auctioned off at an upcoming fund-raiser. He can offer the donor a tax-deduction letter and, in case of a corporation, some free publicity. Can you help Irion rekindle the Olympic spirit, or will this be one hurdle he won’t be able to overcome?

Reader-to-Reader Help Line: Al at (213) 947-6272, who teaches Spanish to adults, is looking for a copy of “Pan y Mantequilla (Bread and Butter), a Practical Conversational Spanish.” The book is out of print, he says, and neither schools nor bookstores seem to have a copy. Please help, so that Al will know which side his bread is buttered on. . . . Mrs. J. Limbaugh at (213) 329-1615 needs the sealing gasket for National No. 5 pressure canner, which is no longer being manufactured. Please take the pressure off Limbaugh before she blows a gasket. . . . Janet at (213) 465-1751 has a daughter in Alaska who is anxious to complete her collection of Franciscan’s Calypso pattern; she needs the plates (either size) and cups and saucers. The product was discontinued two years ago. Please help, so that Janet’s daughter will soon be able to serve cold cuts again.

Note: The Reader-to-Reader Help Line is only for one-time items and for products that are no longer available in stores. And you must give us written permission to publish your telephone number, so that other readers may contact you directly.

If you are still looking for an old-fashioned flour sifter, here is a mail-order source. The Vermont Country Store, P.O. Box 3000, Manchester Center, Vt. 05255-3000 has a five-cup sifter for $4.50; this we hear from Gerry Comport of Laguna Beach, from M. Lakatos of Santa Monica and from Helen Karpus of Rancho Palos Verdes. In addition, Mrs. William Schaeffer says antique stores might be good places to investigate. Carver Jewett of San Jacinto writes that the one used in his home (a No. 40 five-cup sifter) was made by Leigh Bronwell, Michigan City, Ind. And two readers will part with their sifters; if interested, please send a stamped, self-addressed envelope.

Anita Staggs of Inglewood, who was looking for a hand-held, battery-operated mixer, should have no problem in finding the right mix. Nola Richards of Arcadia and Michelle Millar of South Pasadena write that Black & Decker makes a mixer (obtainable in hardware stores) that recharges in its case. Camille Molyneux of Downey saw one at Gemco for $2.98. Elinor Kennedy of Altadena has a mixer made by A. K. Das Co. of Santa Ana, Calif. 92705. Helen Cohen of Los Angeles suggests the Brookstone Shop at Beverly Center, 3rd Street and La Cienega Boulevard, Los Angeles. Mariam Kaplan says the mixer is available for $6.97 at Martinel, 8151 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles. Norene Geiger purchased one at Le Kookery in Sherman Oaks. We also heard from two business sources. Barker Enterprises, 13216 Dobbins Place, Los Angeles, Calif. 90049, mail-orders a hand-held mixer for $10.98, and Vita Minder Co., 17855 Fitch, Irvine, Calif. 92714, has a drink mixer for $7.50. One reader will part with his mixer; if interested, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope.