<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> The schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the corporation's quarterly report to shareholders and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1996 <CASH> 5,175 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 194,877 <ALLOWANCES> (2,411) <INVENTORY> 209,358 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 436,973 <PP&E> 189,056 <DEPRECIATION> (108,544) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 529,550 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 212,684 <BONDS> 86,202 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 57,167 <COMMON> 18,571 <OTHER-SE> 141,220 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 529,550 <SALES> 239,508 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 240,033 <CGS> 177,464 <TOTAL-COSTS> 228,477 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 155 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,429 <INCOME-PRETAX> 8,972 <INCOME-TAX> 3,770 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 5,202 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 5,202 <EPS-PRIMARY> .23 <EPS-DILUTED> .22