Is Reader Left Holding the Bag?

Lately, Marge Pickering of Mission Viejo has not been able to find any two-gallon Zip Lock plastic bags and wonders if they are still being made; she says they’re great for storing cake layers and children’s clothing.

Lorena Vaden of Orange needs a Rug-Crafters Speed-Tufting tool set; the one she was using to complete a five-foot rug has become inoperable. Can you help before you’re really called on the carpet, or will Vaden be reduced to chewing the rug before she gets back on her feet?

For a sister who’s suffering from Lou Gehrig’s disease, Elfie Pangborn of La Palma is looking for Happy Go Lightly shoes by Tread Easy. These are the only shoes her sister can wear, but the store she bought them from went out of business some time ago; the sister lives in Lynwood.

Reader-to-Reader Help Line: Fae at (714) 538-3734 needs the owner’s manual for a 7 1/2x5 1/2-feet lawn building (60639) she bought at Sears about 12 years ago and never put up; please hurry this request alawn . . . Marian at (714) 984-7920 wants to get her hands on a Wearever Can Handler can opener , which has not been made in years. If you can handle this little problem for her, Marian will be wearever grateful. . . . Pat at (805) 498-3407 would like to find the handles that fit all the pots and pans made by Silver Seal many years ago. Please handle this request before Pat’s cookware goes completely to pot; otherwise, nothing may pan out for her. . . . Mildred L. was visiting here from Connecticut and saw this column. Now she wonders whether anybody can help her find two of the metal blades that fit into the bottom of the bowl of an American Food processor; the company is no longer in business. If you could process this request, she’d be bowled over; so would her son Alan, who lives in Hollywood and can be reached at (213) 851-8837. But if you insist on calling Mildred directly, her number is (203) 523-5466.

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 us written permission to publish your telephone number, so that others may contact you directly.

Eleanor McKee of Van Nuys, who was looking for “barber towels” made of white cotton huck fabric, will soon be able to save face. Paul Shafit of Jim’s Classic Barber Shop & Hairstyling Emporium, 12655 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, (818) 760-9028, says he’ll be glad to order these towels for Mckee in any quantity. And Bernice Perriseau of Tujunga says that the toweling can be ordered from Herrschners Crafts, Steven Point, Wis. 54492, 24-hour phone (800) 441-0838; the cost is about $2 per yard in a 15-inch width. We also heard from two readers who claimed they could help in some ways; the information has been forwarded to McKee.

Isabel Hancock of Panorama City, who wanted a 36x72-inch folding dining table, needn’t worry about having her request tabled. Judith Yoakam of Santa Monica says she found such a table at National Lumber in Culver City for about $70. And Miriam Fenton of Cathedral City writes that these tables were made by Virco in various sizes and should be available in any used office furniture store.