Pajamas, Shorts Are Still Undercover

Two readers are missing their Munsingwear pajama parties. Julia Smith of Laguna Beach no longer can find the Tricolor V-neck, no-button, 100% nylon pairs her husband has worn for the last 30 years. And Marie Craighead of Los Angeles says her husband can’t find Munsingwear no-button shorties. Can you help before the bottom falls out of the hopes of our two readers, or will they be convinced they’re at the end of their robe?

Sally Keaton of Rancho Mirage has been looking for the powdered cleaner Soilax without success and wonders what retailer in her area still carries it. Can you help get Keaton back to the soil, or will she be hopelessly frustrated the next time she’s up to her dirty tricks?

For her daughter-in-law’s Christmas, Nola Richards of Arcadia would like to find some pieces of enamel (not ceramic) tableware, especially serving spoons , to replace those the daughter-in-law had at one time but has not been able to find recently. Can you help bring some Christmas peace to the Richards home, or will this be a notion that has to be tabled till next year?

Reader-to-Reader Help Line: Also for Christmas, Barbara at (805) 497-7253 is trying to locate some Johns-Manville Decra-Glo Christmas-tree-light covers that fit over light bulbs and give a soft look to the tree. Please help and light up Barbara’s life in time for Santa Claus. . . . Mrs. Goldblatt at (818) 981-2634 wants to find a high-quality 78-rpm turntable in good condition; it does not have to be enclosed in a cabinet. Please help Mrs. G. turn the tables in her so-far fruitless search.

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.

For Bertha Thompson of Lawndale, who was looking for Vermont maple syrup, we have several local sources, and they are only a drop in the bucket. Jacqueline J. McCarthy of Los Angeles buys natural Camp Plessisville Canadian syrup at her Mayfair market. E. Green of Whittier says to try Garvey Nut House, 9533 Garvey Ave., El Monte. Ibbie McAll of Sylmar says the Price Club on Vineland Avenue and Sherman Way in North Hollywood sells pure Vermont maple syrup at $12 for 64 fluid ounces. And Betty Graber of the Graber Olive House, 315 East 4th St., Ontario, Calif. 91764, (714) 983-1762, has--along with other gourmet foods--pure Maple Grove syrup from St. Johnsbury, Vt. in half-pints, pints and quarts. (They also have a catalogue for Christmas shopping.)

We also have a jug-full of mail-order sources: Putnam Maple Farm, Richmondville, N.Y. 12043 (from Alan Duell, Studio City); Harrington’s, 060A-5 Main St., Richmond, Vt. 05477 (from Lamora Canfield, Los Angeles, and Nola Richards, Arcadia); Ted & Marge Salomas, Corinth, Vt. 05039 (from Sally Miller, Long Beach); E & G Young, Caspian Lake View Farm, Greensboro Bend, Vt. 05842 (from Jane Hanson, Newhall); Grafton Village Apple Co., Route 121, Grafton, Vt. 05146 (from Louise Curtis, La Crescenta); Parker’s Maple Barn, Mason, N.H. 03033, and the Craft Shop, Putney Road, Brattleboro, Vt. 05301 (both from C.A. of Goleta); Cabot Farmers’ Co-Op, Main Street, Cabot, Vt. 05647 (from Mrs. Charles Voss, Thousand Oaks); American Maple Products Corp., Newport, Vt. 05855 (from Eileen Ringwall, San Diego), and Clark Hill Sugary, Canaan, N.H. 03741 (from Maggie Moore, Lawndale). But the Vermont Country Store, P.O. Box 3000, Manchester Center, Vt. 05255-3000, was recommended by more readers than any other supplier: Mary Knight of North Hollywood, Ruth L. Washburn of Los Angeles, Brinton Gold of Indian Wells, Mrs. E. F. Nickerson of Santa Barbara and Fran Post of Pasadena.

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.