<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                                     
<PERIOD-TYPE>                           9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                       APR-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                          MAY-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                            JAN-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                 1.0
<CASH>                                       28,225 
<SECURITIES>                                 64,456
<RECEIVABLES>                               163,884
<ALLOWANCES>                                 19,234
<INVENTORY>                                 105,606
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            369,928
<PP&E>                                      204,997
<DEPRECIATION>                              114,585    
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              503,617
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       112,618
<BONDS>                                           0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                             0
<PREFERRED>                                       0
<COMMON>                                     11,769
<OTHER-SE>                                  272,824
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                503,617
<SALES>                                     578,412
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            578,412
<CGS>                                       303,422
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               536,202
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             (2,702)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                  0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             (544)
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              45,456
<INCOME-TAX>                                 19,010
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          26,446
<DISCONTINUED>                                    0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                   0
<CHANGES>                                         0
<NET-INCOME>                                 26,446
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  3.59                    
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  3.59