Broken Beer Steins Leave Her Frothy

Mrs. L. L. Handy of Fullerton is looking for someone who can repair the peaked caps of old beer steins. Can you fill her need, or will Handy end up frothing at the mouth because no one out there seems to give a lick?

Leslie R. Koenig of Sherman Oaks would like to find a whistling tea kettle made of stainless steel covered with porcelain ; she has already burnt several kettles because they had no whistle. Can you help before Koenig gets really burned up, or will she have to keep letting off steam until she finds the item that fits her to a T?

Martin Zimmerman of Los Angeles has a wet finger up for an old-fashioned Windbreaker or other brand jacket-- the simple nylon-shell kind with zipper and conventional collar. All he has come up with is garish colors, metallic snaps and hoods instead of collars. Can you help by providing a source that he can zip over to, or will he end up in a straitjacket because he’s convinced he’s been hoodwinked?

Patti Garrity of Manhattan Beach has been looking for L’Erin lipstick in Plumrose Frost until she’s blue in the face, but no soap. Can you help by giving her request more than lip service, or will she start mouthing off because she’s just plum disgusted?

Reader-to-Reader Help Line: Lillie at (213) 675-3241 is looking for wooden curtain stretchers with nails around the edges, to keep panels in shape while they dry after being laundered. Nobody seems to carry that product anymore, but about four years ago, several readers indicated they had these curtain stretchers. So would it be stretching things too far if we asked them to come out from behind the curtain and help once more?

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.

Last week we published a request for oxalic acid to remove rust from concrete driveways. In the meantime, we have learned that oxalic acid is dangerous and highly toxic and that most experts strongly recommend against its use for rust removal. According to several chemists we contacted, phosphoric acid is much safer for that purpose, although gloves should be worn even with that product (as it should be with all chemicals). Naval Jelly is one rust remover that contains phosphoric acid, and it is available at hardware stores, including Grand True Value Hardware, 6410 San Fernando Road, Glendale; Old-Time True Value Hardware, 2515 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena, and at chains such as Standard Brands.

Ilse Miller of Studio City, who was looking for Tahitian products, especially soaps, may soon be able to come clean. Lally D. Thiele of Woodland Hills says the products are available under the Monoi label (the word monoi is Tahitian for coconut oil) and that a year ago they were available at some Bullock’s stores.

J. Bradford of Hollywood, who needed a swivel steno chair repaired, will soon be a chairman again. Walt Greenes of the Southern California Craftsmen, 4321 Matilija Ave., Sherman Oaks, (818) 907-7544 or (213) 475-8786, says his firm does repairs and refinishing on all types of office furniture.