<ARTICLE>                       5
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                  9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              AUG-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                 SEP-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAY-31-1996
<CASH>                                           1,449,000
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   55,824,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                    (1,260,000)
<INVENTORY>                                     52,373,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               114,728,000 
<PP&E>                                          59,317,000
<DEPRECIATION>                                  34,872,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 169,957,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           38,604,000
<BONDS>                                         26,543,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                        11,261,000
<OTHER-SE>                                      88,456,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   169,957,000
<SALES>                                        167,883,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               167,883,000
<CGS>                                          109,697,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  151,660,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                  (809,000)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               3,030,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 14,002,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                     5,110,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              8,892,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                     8,892,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          .86
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          .86