Bells Would Be Music to His Ears

For teaching music to his children, Tom Collins of Los Angeles would like to find a set of Melody Bells for Christmas. These were colored plastic bells with a color-coded instruction book. Does something ring a bell as far as sources are concerned, or will Collins’ children be out of tune when it comes to facing the music?

To finish a sweater, Bette Lynch of Glendora needs a skein of 100% Orlon acrylic Brunswick Windmist Brushed Yarn, Lot 8-5072, shade 2800-white ; the yarn shop she’s been patronizing is now out of business. Can you help Lynch become a sweater girl again, or will this be one yarn she’ll finish only by the skein of her teeth?

For plucking her eyelashes after taking off her glasses, Betts Waite of Ventura needs a quadruple-magnification round mirror with a stand . The mirrors available now, she claims, do not magnify sufficiently. Can you see eye-to-eye with Waite on this, or will she need lots of pluck before this hair-raising episode comes to an end?

Reader-to-Reader-Help Line: Herma at (714) 847-5066 is looking for a Club Alum water kettle (any color), which the manufacturer says is no longer being made; she has all the other products manufactured by that firm. Please see to it that Herma is soon in hot water again in her kitchen, so she can stop letting off steam. . . . Arlene at (213) 974-8139 is looking for Faberge Woodhue fragrances (soap, bath powder, cologne); the company says the line has been discontinued. Please make sure that Arlene won’t have to take a bath on this germane problem.

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

For Mary Greenburg of San Bernardino, who wanted a club that breeds fancy pet rats, we have a source just a scamper away. Dave Kelman of San Diego says to contact the American Fancy Rat & Mouse Assn., c/o Karen Hauser, 9230 64th St., Riverside, Calif. 92509, (714) 685-2350.

We have another product for Estelle Goldstein, one that may be a real key to solving her toothpaste-tube problem. Rudy Ramos of Torrance says that rolling up the end of the tube is obsolete and that his dentist gave him a thin sheet of plastic 3” long and 1 5/8” wide, with a slit in the middle. You just insert the end of the tube into the slit and push the slit up as the tube empties. If you can’t find them in drugstores, just ask your--or Ramos’--dentist.

Bonnie Hood of Canyon Country, who wanted plastic window shades in various odd sizes, need no longer worry that it’s curtains for her dream kitchen. Jan St. Amant of West Hollywood maintains that the new 1989 Sears Home Catalogue carries vinyl window shades in widths to 121 inches and in lengths up to 72 inches. St. Amant adds that the catalogue also lists patio shades that can be cut to any lengths.

Hain cannot answer mail personally but will, space permitting, respond in this column to readers who need--or have--helpful information.