If the Work Shoe Fits, It Must Be a 16 1/2

For her 18-year-old nephew, Mrs. E. Klein of Redondo Beach needs Size 16 1/2 working shoes. Can you help with a source without stepping on anybody’s toes, or will Klein end up feeling like a heel because the young man has to go barefoot?

Esther K. of Duarte is desperately looking for regular cotton or rayon panties with garters attached ; she doesn’t want girdles or garter belts. Can you help without scaring the socks off Esther over the price, or would she be stretching things too far?

Because it is difficult to take a pill when drinking from a fountain, Beulah Dimperio of Inglewood says she and other senior citizens are trying to find collapsible cups that can be carried in a purse when they travel. Can you make sure that Dimperio’s cup runneth over, or will the lack of help be a tough pill for her to swallow?

Due to an allergy to wheat flour, Bill Umhofer of Hollywood is trying to sink his teeth into some potato bread. Can you butter him up with a source, or will he continue to be in a jam because you considered him to have lots of crust for asking such a crummy question?

Reader-to-Reader Help Line: Irving at (619) 287-9555 and Norma Turner of Hemet (who didn’t provide a phone number) are both thirsting for plastic holders (with handles) for half-gallon milk cartons ; the item seems to have been discontinued. Please help both readers get a handle on things and make sure that neither cries over spilt milk. . . . Rita at (619) 769-4212 needs replacement pieces for a set of Caden City Pottery she bought about 35 years ago in San Diego. Please help before things go completely to pot in Rita’s house. . . . Sue at (213) 451-0235 is on the patrol for two gold-plated charms that can be worn around the neck and form the words “TEN FOUR,” with the “FOUR” below the “TEN.” Please charm Sue and help her before she gives somebody the “what four.”

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.

Ed Shriver of Long Beach, who wants someone to reweave his Brown-Jordan patio chairs, can go to any Brown-Jordan dealer or to the factory in El Monte (where the work is done). The firm’s refinishing manager, Frank Voorhies, says to call (818) 443-8971, Ext. 243. Readers who suggested Brown-Jordan are Maybelle Holditch of Laguna Hills, Karen Kearney of Long Beach, Barbara Boyd of Dana Point, L. E. Miller of Manhattan Beach and Mrs. Jules Berman of Beverly Hills. Other Southern California firms that work on patio furniture include Patio Guys in San Marcos and Santa Ana (from Marian Poage of Bonsall and Paula Kruse of Newport Beach) and Patio Furniture Refinishers in Santa Ana (from Mrs. Elmo Switzer of Laguna Beach).

Nancy Rorty of Palos Verdes Estates, who was looking for Finish Feeder wood polish, “wood” do well to contact Finish Feeder Co., Box 2158, Alexandria, Va. 22301, for the store closest to her, according to Beth Andrews of Oxnard. And if Rorty is ever in Los Angeles, she might stop at Laurel Hardware, 7984 Santa Monica Blvd. According to a reader, they have the polish.

Here’s a lead for Bernard R. Glennon of Whittier, who wants someone to teach him etching on glass: Vince Alyward of Light Images, 464 Greensboro Court, Claremont, Calif. 91711, does hand engraving (no acid or sand).

In a recent reply concerning terry cloth robes by LoBo Fashions, we listed the incorrect ZIP code for Yucca Valley, Calif.; the correct ZIP code is 92286.

Refreshing news for the many readers who have been searching for Helena Rubinstein cosmetics: The line is no longer sold in the United States, but two firms have purchased the entire available inventory. Space Age Distributors, 450 Forest Ave., Paramus, N.J. 07652, telephone (201) 261-4775, has bought all Helena Rubinstein products except the Ultra Feminine skin-care line. Ultra Feminine products are available only from American Frometics, P.O. Box 2425, Secaucus, N.J. 07094.

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.