Locating a Mailbox That’s for the Birds

Alberta Hultman of West Los Angeles is trying to locate a wooden mailbox, specifically one that looks like a large birdhouse with a shake roof. Her neighborhood, she says, is full of these mailboxes, but they were all put in some years ago. Can you help with this house-shaking problem, or will Hultman wonder whether her direct-mail request is for the birds?

A Pasadena reader named Beverly is looking for mesquite wood chips, the kind you soak for a few minutes before sprinkling over hot coals in the grill. She is definitely not looking for mesquite chunks but chips, and claims she was able to get these in Phoenix, but can’t find them in Los Angeles. Can you help put Beverly back into the chips, or will she have to do a slow burn until the next time she visits Arizona?

Larry Hathaway of Burbank is looking for two thermometers, one about 18 inches long that has a range from 25 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, and another--for a spa--that has one-degree increments. Can you help gauge Hathaway’s temper, or will this be one situation that is too hot to handle?

Reader-to-Reader Help Line: Harriet at (818) 981-2634 needs a turntable with a long-handle lever for an old Metzner Starlight phonograph with adjustable speeds ; please don’t tune Harriet out, but help her hit a high without becoming cranky . ... Jeannie at (818) 982-5155 is looking for the attachments to a Shetland floor polisher; the items are no longer being made. She needs the scrubbing brushes, polishing pads and shampooer. Please help Jeannie brush up on her act before her polisher goes to the dogs. . . . Mrs. Kennedy at (714) 595-3235 is trying to locate an old Sears 10x10-inch waffle iron with the grids in good condition. Please stop waffling around and help our reader iron out that problem.

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.

We hate to throw cold water on the recent request of Eugene Feingold, who was looking for an automatic dishwasher to fit under a 30-inch-high counter, but all we have is a reader’s suggestion that may or may not wash. Jo James of Bakersfield says to inquire at a place that sells mobile home or trailer supplies; evidently the appliances available in such places are smaller in size than regular home appliances.

Lela of Long Beach, Hayden Leon of Palos Verdes Peninsula and Mrs. H. K. Loeffler of Arcadia, all of whom were looking for Noxon silver polish, should be able to find the product within spitting--and polishing--distance. Actually, Loeffler already has, at Hughes. Others who saw Noxon at a Hughes market include Kathleen Rogers of Alhambra and a Pasadena reader. Clarence M. Pauli of Banning and Mrs. Lawrence E. Daniels of Los Angeles found Noxon at Safeway. Nancy Reed of Van Nuys and Isabelle Walters of Canoga Park found it at Sav-on. Susan Klein of Irvine messages that Noxon can be purchased at Builder’s Emporium. Harriet Yates of Corona found it at a T.G.& Y. store, and Florence Bloom of Sepulveda bought Noxon at Danish American Farms in Sepulveda.

The plea of a Laguna reader for someone to service a bidet has not gone down the drain. We had a number of responses. Harry M. Umann of Product General International of Gardena, makers of the American Bidet, says to call their customer-service department at (213) 327-2096. Arthur R. Tarnutzer of Pacific Palisades, Lorraine Stillinger of Pomona and Marion D. Green of Los Angeles suggest the American Bidet Co. at (213) 671-1111. Tarnutzer also lists the American Bidet Service Co. in Gardena at (213) 324-5904. (Perhaps all these companies are identical.) A. D. Disney of Oceanside says he received excellent service through Mr. Bidet, 1919 Tigertail Road, Dania, Fla. 33004, (305) 922-2222; Disney adds that Palm Springs Plumbing of Palm Springs has carried the product and might be able to help. And Ruth Rossman of West Los Angeles says bidet service is available from N&B; Engineering, (213) 977-7111, or Joe Robinson, (213) 585-0994.

Herb Hain cannot answer mail personally but will, space permitting, respond in this column to readers who have--or need--helpful information. Write (do not telephone) to You Can Help!, You section, the Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles 90053.