<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> NOV-30-2000 NOV-30-1999 <PERIOD-START> DEC-01-1999 DEC-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> AUG-31-2000 AUG-31-1999 <CASH> 9,542 9,675 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 142,338 132,650 <ALLOWANCES> 7,897 4,389 <INVENTORY> 91,881 98,681 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 253,694 252,832 <PP&E> 353,943 354,714 <DEPRECIATION> 208,268 202,814 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 467,647 472,697 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 110,978 117,938 <BONDS> 147,892 141,973 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 13,007 13,007 <OTHER-SE> 165,298 160,038 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 467,647 472,697 <SALES> 394,630 411,162 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 394,630 411,162 <CGS> 296,567 302,635 <TOTAL-COSTS> 296,567 302,635 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 84,668 86,003 <LOSS-PROVISION> 960 (717) <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9,466 10,524 <INCOME-PRETAX> 20,161 22,074 <INCOME-TAX> 5,040 7,064 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 15,121 15,010 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 15,121 15,010 <EPS-BASIC> 3.81 3.75 <EPS-DILUTED> 3.81 3.74