<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1996 AUG-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JUN-01-1996 SEP-01-1995 <PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1996 AUG-31-1996 <CASH> 572,000 572,000 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 58,183,000 58,183,000 <ALLOWANCES> (1,260,000) (1,260,000) <INVENTORY> 51,935,000 51,935,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 112,796,000 112,796,000 <PP&E> 61,621,000 61,621,000 <DEPRECIATION> (35,715,000) (35,715,000) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 172,949,000 172,949,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 40,180,000 40,180,000 <BONDS> 24,520,000 24,520,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 11,261,000 11,261,000 <OTHER-SE> 91,383,000 91,383,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 172,949,000 172,949,000 <SALES> 62,274,000 230,157,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 62,274,000 230,157,000 <CGS> 40,075,000 149,772,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 15,450,000 57,413,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (474,000) (1,283,000) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 785,000 3,815,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 6,438,000 20,440,000 <INCOME-TAX> 2,390,000 7,500,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 4,048,000 12,940,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 4,048,000 12,940,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> .38 1.24 <EPS-DILUTED> .38 1.24