Wire With Spring Battens Down the Pad

James Kuyper of Pasadena is looking for an item he once saw on an ironing board-- a spring attached to some wires. When stretched underneath the ironing board, this device helped keep the ironing pad flat. Can you all spring into action and help, or will Kuyper flat out have to admit that this is one hot item nobody is going to spring on him?

Margaret Vietmeier of Azusa has long been tearing her hair out over her failure to locate a hair net that has a wide strip of satin, a mesh net top adjustable for a bouffant hair closing. Can you solve this hair-raising matter, or will the net result be another case of not being able to pull a hare out of a hat?

John Donat of Torrance would like to find some slide holders for a Bell & Howell cube slide projector. Can you help put Donat’s search into focus, or will this be a project that he will have to put on hold for a while--or worse, let slide?

A San Diego reader named Marion wants to know if anyone makes long-sleeve, front-zipper sweat shirts--without hoods--in adult sizes. Can you provide Marion with a source she can zip over to, or will she feel hoodwinked because there’s nothing left to do except pull the wool over her own eyes?

Reader-to-Reader Help Line: Eva at (818) 331-1462 is looking for an English-language manual for a Brothers Pacesetter 605 sewing machine ; the manual that came with the machine is in Japanese. Please help, so Eva won’t be so sew-sew and can set the pace. . . . James at (818) 446-0840 needs the head and tanning bulb for a Model 30413 old-style tanning lamp by Canrad-Hanovia; the product has not been made in years. Please help and brighten James’ day. . . . Eileen at (805) 925-5072 is looking for some felt filter pads for a Filtron cold-water coffee extractor. You’ll have Eileen’s heartfelt thanks if you don’t pour cold water on her hopes. . . . For his early-model Swatch Watch (the one with the nautical flags), Ben at (213) 478-5083 needs unusual batteries--11,60 x 3,10 1.55 volts. Please make sure that Ben doesn’t miss his watch and help put him back on course.

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

Richard L. Black of Torrance and Robert B. Roessler of Rolling Hills Estates, both of whom were looking for someone to repair a wall-mounted humidity indicator, no longer have to sweat it out. A source not far from our two readers is Southwest Instrument Co., 235 West 7th St., San Pedro, (213) 519-7800. This firm specializes in repairing nautical instruments, but they said they will tackle off-the-wall jobs.

We now have a source for our many readers who have been looking for difficult-to-find perfumes and fragrances. Jacqueline, 310 Geary St., San Francisco, Calif. 94102, (415) 981-0858, carries a number of such lines, including Coutourier (but not Germain Monteil, which many readers have asked for). Owner Jacqueline says she will keep orders for unusual fragrances on file for some time if requested.

For Charlotte Bayer of Santa Monica, who was looking for red paste wax, we have good news and bad news. The bad news is that the product has been discontinued. The good news, according to a Pasadena reader, is something called McKlosky Clear Stone Finish Terrazo Seal No. 1085. Our reader says to clean off the old wax buildup and apply one or two coats of the Terrazo Seal; this will bring out the color in the tiles and last longer than with wax.

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.