<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FORM THE BALANCE
SHEET AS OF SEPTEMBER 29, 1996 AND STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE TWENTY-SIX
WEEKS ENDED SEPTEMBER 29, 1996 OF AMERILINK CORPORATION AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          MAR-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             APR-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-29-1996
<CASH>                                         111,870
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                9,896,472
<ALLOWANCES>                                   208,000
<INVENTORY>                                  1,887,981
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            18,469,584
<PP&E>                                       5,858,325<F1>
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0<F1>
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              24,500,261
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        5,766,869
<BONDS>                                      8,875,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                     8,061,395
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,679,158
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                24,500,261
<SALES>                                     29,183,984
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            29,183,984
<CGS>                                       19,503,376
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               28,026,221
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               (3,828)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             278,706
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                882,885
<INCOME-TAX>                                   353,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            529,885
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   529,885
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.15
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.15
<FN>
<F1>Property, plant and equipment is Reported Net of Accumulated Depreciation
on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
</FN>