Dear Sun Spots: I need your help!

I just bought a compost maker at a yard sale. It’s a barrel that I can turn. I need to know what and how much to put in it to get it started. Anyone who can please send me information will get reimbursed for postage. I would like to get it started as soon as possible. Any tips and hints would also be appreciated. I can be reached at 247 Webber Brook Road, Oxford, ME 04270. – Nancy Kimball, Oxford.

Answer: In addition to responses from readers, Sun Spots wonders if your compost maker is in fact a tumbler, in which case some information online may help you:

According to http://cleanairgardening.com/patdesaustum.html, (where you can see a photograph of the maker to verify if it is identical) to get started composting, just throw some material into the compost bin and give it a spin. When the composter gets full and heavy, you can push down on one side and pull up on the other and still make it tumble without much effort at all. The Web site notes that many people prefer tumbling composters because the design makes it easy to keep the compost turned and aerated. A well-aerated bin helps break down materials into ready compost faster.

A daily spin will produce earthy dark brown compost in as few as 21 days. Your specific composting time depends on your mix of materials, moisture of the compost, weather, etc.

Dear Sun Spots: Could you please give us the address for H. E. Harris if they’re still open for business. We would also like some addresses and phone numbers for stamp and coin collectors. – Reba Gray, Auburn.

Answer: According to www.whitmanbooks.com, H.E. Harris has merged with Whitman, to become a source for philatelic and numismatic supplies and accessories. To place an order by telephone, you can call customer service at 1-800-546-2995 or fax 1-256-246-1116. Customer service representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Central Standard Time. To reach a customer service representative by e-mail for questions or comments, send to [email protected].

H.E. Harris & Co. is known as a driving force in the collector’s markets today because of the vision of its founder, Henry Ellis Harris. Harris was born in Atlanta, Ga., in 1902. His entrepreneurial talent showed itself early, when, at 8 years old, he was a skilled door-to-door salesman in his parents’ Norfolk, Va., neighborhood. In 1910 he discovered his grandfather’s stamp album and got bitten by the collector’s bug. By 1916 he was a seasoned collector and had founded H.E. Harris & Co. by placing a free ad in The Washington Post. His idea to sell stamps with no risk, on approval was novel and won him many customers. Before his 16th birthday, he had $200 in the bank.

One of Henry’s first major breaks came in 1920 when he made a deal with a wealthy client to bankroll a buying trip in Europe. The deal was that Harry and the client would split the profits 50/50. Then the client found out that his business partner was only 18 years old and almost pulled out of the arrangement. After he had time to cool down, he advanced Henry the $30,000 anyway. The trip was profitable enough that he could move H.E. Harris & Co. out of his bedroom.

During the 1930s, Harris & Co. was responsible for one of the most successful radio promotions in history: the “Ivory Stamp Club of the Air.” A total of 2.7 million listeners sent in Ivory soap wrappers to become members. Many of them became some of Harris’ most faithful customers for decades. The radio show was responsible for distributing more than 400 million stamps and a million stamp albums to the American public.

In 1991, H.E. Harris & Co. celebrated its 75th anniversary. For 57 of those years, Henry Harris was the sole proprietor and guiding force behind the company. Before he retired, he handpicked the succeeding management team.

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be posted at www.sunjournal.com in the Advice section under Opinion on the left-hand corner of your computer screen. In addition, you can e-mail your inquiries to [email protected].