Exhibit 23.1

To the Board of Directors of The Lehigh Group Inc.

We hereby consent to the inclusion of our report dated March 4, 1996,  except as
to Note 3,  which is as of March  28,  1996  with  respect  to the  consolidated
balance sheets of The Lehigh Group Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1995
and 1994 and the related  consolidated  statements of  operations,  shareholders
equity  (deficit) and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 1995.

                                                                 BDO SEIDMAN LLP

New York, New York
June 23, 1997