Jar Opener

[Fred Rickson]

This request is directed at those who might have a room full of specimens
in jars.  I have reached an age (56) where arthritis in my thumbs is
beginning to make it very painful to open Bakelite capped specimen jars.
Even after I bang the lid on a concrete floor it hurts to grip the jar
top.  So, does anyone out there have a suggestion for some make of "lid
gripper"?  I have tried one with a smooth plastic strap, but it doesn't
grip small lids very well, and another which tightens two little metal
spikes often breaks the lid.  A piece of innertube works, but I still have
to squeeze the top, and that hurts.

Well, this is probably an age-dependent question, but any ideas would
really be appreciated.  Thank you.

Fred Rickson
Department of Botany
Oregon State University
Corvallis, Oregon
97331  USA

Internet: ricksonf at bcc.orst.edu