<ARTICLE>           5
<LEGEND>            THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                    EXTRACTED FROM THE STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
                    POSITION AND CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS INCLUDED IN PART I OF
                    THIS REPORT ON FORM 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
                    BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<MULTIPLIER>        1,000
       
                                                                     
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                    SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                         6-MOS
<CASH>                                                               11,938
<SECURITIES>                                                         30,340
<RECEIVABLES>                                                        60,046
<ALLOWANCES>                                                              0
<INVENTORY>                                                          58,093
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                    238,978
<PP&E>                                                               86,947
<DEPRECIATION>                                                       49,336
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                      341,195
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                58,781
<BONDS>                                                               6,403
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                                               0
<COMMON>                                                              6,285
<OTHER-SE>                                                          225,857
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                        341,195
<SALES>                                                             164,073
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                          0
<CGS>                                                               118,487
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                             0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                          0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                          0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                      651
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                      19,145
<INCOME-TAX>                                                          7,090
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                  12,055
<DISCONTINUED>                                                       (8,564)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                           0
<CHANGES>                                                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                                          3,491
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                           .28
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                             0