EXHIBIT 10.44

     EXTENSION AND FIRST AMENDMENT OF LEASE, dated as of January 13, 1994,
by and between RTC PROPERTIES, INC., a New York corporation having an office
at 1185 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 310, New York, New York 10036 ("Lessor")
and MERCER PRODUCTS CO., INC., a New York corporation having an office at
Hackensack Avenue, Building 10, Kearny, New Jersey 07032 ("Lessee").

                              WITNESSETH:

     WHEREAS, Lessor, as lessor, and Lessee, as lessee, entered into a
lease agreement dated as of December 1, 1988 (hereinafter referred to as the
"Lease Agreement"), covering premises including a portion of Building 10 at
the River Terminal Facility, Kearny, New Jersey, as more particularly
described therein (the "Premises"), and

     WHEREAS, the Lease Agreement will expire on April 30, 1994; and

     WHEREAS, Lessor and Lessee desire to extend the Lease Agreement for
an additional term of one year and, coincident with such extension, to
amend certain other provisions of the Lease Agreement;

     NOW, THEREFORE, Lessor and Lessee do hereby agree to the extension of
theLease Agreement and to the amendment of the Lease Agreement as follows:

          PARAGRAPH 1. Section 1.01 of the Lease Agreement is hereby
     amended by deleting the expiration date "April 30, 1994" and inserting
     in its place and stead the date "April 30, 1995".

          PARAGRAPH 2. During the one year extension, the Fixed Rent
     payable by Lessee pursuant to Section 2.01 shall remain unchanged.

          PARAGRAPH 3. Article THIRTY-FOURTH is hereby amended to provide
     that the term "Expiration Date originally provided for herein" shall
     refer to the Term as extended herein, i.e., April 30, 1995.

          PARAGRAPH 4. Unless otherwise provided expressly herein,
     initially capitalized terms used herein shall have the same meanings
     that they have in the Lease Agreement.

          PARAGRAPH 5. Except as modified herein, the provisions of the
     Lease Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Lessor and Lessee have duly executed this Extension
and First Amendment of Lease as of the day and year first above written.


                                           RTC PROPERTIES, INC.

                                       By:
                                           -------------------------------
                                           MERCER PRODUCTS CO., INC.

                                       By: /s/ Thomas S. Keup
                                           -------------------------------
                                           Thomas S. Keup

ATTEST:

By: /s/ Phyllis P. Bartle
    -----------------------------
    Phyllis P. Bartle
    [NOTARY SEAL]