Reader May Have to Let Her Hair Down

Jane Turner of Hermosa Beach is trying to replenish her supply of a special kind of bobby pin , one that holds baby-fine hair; it has to be very small, tightly sprung, dark brown with plain tips (no plastic ends) and made of thin metal. Right now she is down to her last one. Can you help, or will she have to tear her hair out before she becomes a pin-up girl again?

Dean Terlinden of Long Beach wants to find the glass birds that sit on a rocking stand and are partially filled with liquid ; the flow of the liquid from the head to the tail causes the bird to either sit up or rock back. Can you help before this goes to Terlinden’s head, or he flies off the handle and realizes that the whole thing might be for the birds?

Bobby Richardson of Thousand Oaks, who has been running around in circles in her search for self-sticking carpet squares, can stop chewing the rug. Irene Haymond of El Segundo says the squares are obtainable through Aegis Trading International, 3301 Beverly Blvd., Suite 1, Los Angeles, Calif. 90004, (213) 385-3702.

We are able to cushion the blow somewhat for Marvin Snyder of Beverly Hills, who was looking for a hassock. Lois Jenks of Los Angeles writes that Comfortably Yours, 52 W. Hunter Ave., Maywood, N.J. 07607, (201) 368-0400, carries a hassock ($45) shaped like a half moon that can be maneuvered into different positions. But closer to home, Jerry Logan, who represents Safeco Insurance Cos., says they have three hassocks (in good condition) from an estate. And two other local readers say they are willing to get off their hassocks. If Snyder (or anyone else) is interested, a stamped, self-addressed envelope will bring us quickly to our feet.

Sally Guisinger, who was looking for kazoos for a senior citizens group, can now end her search on a high (and inexpensive) note. More than a dozen readers said kazoos are available from Al Broder, 163 S. Fairfax Ave. (near Farmers Market), Los Angeles. And Broder himself told us that all senior citizens (and representatives of senior citizens groups) will be able to pick up kazoos at his place free of charge; to others, the cost is 50 cents.

Here are additional local sources for kazoos: Music ‘n Things, 22753 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance, (213) 378-1477 (from owners Ann Ehrenclou and Teddy Greenwald, who say their store is totally devoted to the performing arts); National Music Service, Anaheim (714) 776-7931 (from Mieque Weinstein of Santa Ana); Pedrini Music, 230 W. Main St., Alhambra, and 5163 Montclair Plaza, Montclair (from Mrs. H. Mason and Nettie Wasserman), and Famous Amos at the Food Park in Commerce (from Mrs. Richard Demers, Covina).

Somewhat more distant locations are Mission Music Service, 27601 Forbes Road, Suite N, Laguna Niguel (from Claire Horn); Nyborg’s Music, 215 E. Main St., Barstow (from Bobbi Kraus), and various Farrell’s Ice Cream parlors (from Maxi Campbell of Mar Vista).

Don’t stop the music yet. We also have mail order sources. W. B. Parker says you can get the original metal kazoos from Q-R-S Music Roll Inc., 1026 Nargara St., Buffalo, N.Y. 14213. Gertrude Zekley of Tujunga writes that Lark in the Morning, P.O. Box 1176, Mendocino, Calif. 95460, carries kazoos in metal, plastic or wood. And Dorothy W. Hewes of San Diego says Kaplan’s, 5360 Eastgate Mall, Suite E, San Diego, Calif. 92121, carries plastic kazoos in various colors; they are a school-supply house. Susan Bruschaber of Torrance and Herb Prentice of Downey told us that the original metal kazoos are made in the “Kazoo Capital” of the world, Eden, N.Y.; write the Kazoo Factory, South Main Street, Eden, N.Y. 14057.

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.