<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM JASON
INCORPORATED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AT JUNE 26, 1998, AND CONSOLIDATED
INCOME STATEMENT FOR THE SIX MONTH PERIOD ENDED JUNE 26, 1998.  AND IS QUALIFIED
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-25-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             DEC-27-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-26-1998
<CASH>                                           30375
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    54512
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0<F1>
<INVENTORY>                                      43427
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                145060
<PP&E>                                          162516
<DEPRECIATION>                                   74848
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  305426
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           104653
<BONDS>                                          68263<F2>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         35253
<OTHER-SE>                                       80170
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    305426
<SALES>                                         190067
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                190067
<CGS>                                           147633
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   147633
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                3555
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  10927
<INCOME-TAX>                                      4263
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               6664
<DISCONTINUED>                                    1278
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                      7942
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.39<F3>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.37
<FN>
<F1>COMPANY PRESENTS RECEIVABLES ON A NET BASIS IN COMPLIANCE WITH ARTICLE 10
REGULATION S-X.
<F2>INCLUDES ALL NON-CURRENT PORTION OF DEBT OBLIGATIONS.
<F3>THE EPS UNDER THE EPS PRIMARY TAG REPRESENTS BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE IN
ACCORDANCE WITH STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STANDARD NO. 128 EARNINGS PER
SHARE.
</FN>