<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE COMPANY'S CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF SEPTEMBER 26, 1997 AND THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 26, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-26-1997 <CASH> 37,485 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 171,005 <ALLOWANCES> 5,416 <INVENTORY> 168,790 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 396,615 <PP&E> 112,342 <DEPRECIATION> (63,860) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 470,690 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 147,497 <BONDS> 120,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 113 <OTHER-SE> 194,516 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 470,690 <SALES> 557,563 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 557,563 <CGS> 337,453 <TOTAL-COSTS> 337,453 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 1,264 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 11,568 <INCOME-PRETAX> 42,568 <INCOME-TAX> 12,776 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 29,810 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 29,810 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.55 <EPS-DILUTED> 0