This Search for a One Liner Is No Joke

Anne Gosche of Mission Viejo would like to get a handle on someone in Orange County who relines purses. Can you help before Gosche loses her “poise” completely, or will she be “out of line” if she claims that it’s in the bag?

Lucy Foster of Anaheim is on the prowl for an adult-size Winnie the Pooh T-shirt. So far, all she has been able to locate are baby items. Can you help by not pooh-poohing this plea and bearing with us, or will Foster realize that whatever is “bruin” out there is barely scratching the surface?

Charles R. Pavlik of Chatsworth has been reaching out (unsuccessfully) for men’s socks with non-elastic tops , the type Thom McAn sold years ago. Right off the top, would it be stretching things too far to ask if you can help with a source, or will Pavlik wonder who will sock it to him next?

Mrs. Gordon L. McFarland of Laguna Hills is banking on finding two items: For her husband, a zippered leather change holder with slots for coins , and for herself, a zippered wallet that not only has space for bills and ID cards but also metal slots for change. We realize that what we are asking for is not small change, but can you help get Mrs. McFarland her money’s worth, to coin a phrase, or will she be crying as she zips along all the way to the bank?

Reader-to-Reader Help Line: Laurie at (714) 661-1116 is desperate for the blue or gold plastic horses made years ago by Breyer Molding Co. ; these range in size from 6 inches to 13 inches. It behooves all of us to stop being neigh-sayers and to gallop to the rescue, so Laurie’s night-mare about having an incomplete collection will end. . . . Phil at (213) 660-5277 needs the instruction booklet for a portable electric Universal sewing machine , Model UNL-60, Serial No. 50627. Please help Phil before he feels like either peddling his machine or else sewing somebody; you’re his last thread of hope. . . . Joseph at (213) 656-8882 is seeking extra-length beaters for a very old 10-speed Sunbeam automatic Model 7-B Mixmaster ; please stop beating around the bush and help get Joseph back on the beam.

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.

Kathleen Tobin of Sierra Madre and Helen Keating of Los Angeles, who were looking for 78-rpm record players, have since been joined by Robert Cloonan of Hawthorne and Dorothy Law of Long Beach. For our four readers, we have good news and some sound advice. The good news is that Dual has just come out with a Model CS 5000, which plays at three speeds and is superb--but not inexpensive, according to two readers who have purchased them: Lawrence R. Frankley and Virginia Lowry-Roberts of Los Angeles.

The advice comes from Hank Landsberg of Sierra Madre, who suggests going to a snooty stereo store and buying a used record changer or used turntable, such as a Dual 1229 or a Garrard; the only problem with buying a used changer, Landsberg says, is locating a stylus (needle) and cartridge that will play 78s; these may have to be special-ordered because the ones that come with the used changer may not work. He recommends the Stanton Type 500 cartridge and the Stanton Type 5127 stylus. We also heard from about 15 readers who are willing to dispose of 78-rpm record players and/or phonographs in various sizes and of various makes. If interested, a stamped, self-addressed envelope may sound like a good idea.

More on cleaning lamp shades: Craig Hoerner of Marina del Rey writes that Brookstone, 5 Vose Farm Road, Peterborough, N.H. 03458, has two products that can be used for that purpose: M-12264 and M-11397.

Good news for the many readers who have been writing in about 100%-cotton terry cloth robes. Bo Olsson of Lobo Fashions, P.O. Box 2047, Yucca Valley, Calif. 92268-2047, writes that they make these robes in eight colors, in sizes from ladies’ small to men’s extra large. The price is $125 plus $5 shipping.

A few weeks ago, we published a source for collar wires. Now Wayne Dassan informs us that these collar stays are at military supply houses and uniform shops.

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.