Getting Hot Under the Collar About Ties

Mrs. E. Appert of Hollywood and Al Bennett of Van Nuys must feel as if they were going to a necktie party. Appert is searching for knotted men’s ties that come with a clip for attaching to the collar; her husband has arthritis and has difficulty tying the knot. Can you help Appert out of this bind, or will she have to be really game to settle for a tie? As for Bennett, he is looking for a collar extender ; the shirts fit fine, but the collars are tight. Can you help Bennett out of this tight squeeze, or will he feel like tying one on?

Betty J. Ketchum of Signal Hill would like to find some skeins of Aunt Lydia’s cotton rug yarns in nice kitchen colors. She says she can’t stand the current acrylic or similar yarns. Can you help cotton to Ketchum, or will she--if nobody listens to her yarn--start chewing the rug?

Olive Reuschel of Los Angeles wants to replace arch supports called Balancers. Years ago, these were sold at Robinson’s shoe department, but the salespeople there could offer no information as to their availability. Can you help with a source before Reuschel feels like suing for nonsupport, or will her trials cause her to forever be caught flat-footed?

Reader-to-Reader Help Line: Ann at (213) 472-1842 would like to find a licorice product called Helps, which she says is most effective in soothing the throat but which is no longer available in stores. Please help Ann clear her throat before this entire episode leaves a bitter taste in her mouth. . . .

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

For Sue Mallett of Pacific Palisades, who was looking for sheer, white curtains with reversible panels for narrow French windows, we may have some help. Janice Arnold of Redondo Beach says she does custom sewing; her phone number is (213) 374-6256.

Betty Noone of Torrance, who was looking for Angel-Tread Slippers, must be slipping a bit. According to Cynthia Halpert of Burbank, these slippers are available in the women’s department or hosiery department of the Broadway, May Co., Robinson’s and Penney’s.

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