EXHIBIT 12.1 


                          WELLS ALUMINUM CORPORATION 

            COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (a) 
                        (In thousands, except ratios) 



                                     THREE MONTHS 
                                        ENDED                            YEARS ENDED 
                                      MARCH 31,                         DECEMBER 31, 
                                  ------------------ --------------------------------------------------- 
                                    1997      1996      1996      1995       1994      1993      1992 
                                  -------- --------  --------- ---------  --------- ---------  -------- 
                                                                          
EARNINGS 
Earnings before income taxes and 
 extraordinary item (Note 1)  ...  $3,202    $2,794   $15,902    $14,843   $ 6,202    $ 3,250   $ (164) 
Interest expense.................   1,167     1,441     5,176      7,087     8,443      8,487    9,226 
Portion of rent expense 
 representative of an interest 
 factor..........................     123       129       499        478       449        463      437 
                                  -------- --------  --------- ---------  --------- ---------  -------- 
Adjusted earnings (Note 1) ......  $4,492    $4,364   $21,577    $22,408   $15,094    $12,200   $9,499 
                                  ======== ========  ========= =========  ========= =========  ======== 
FIXED CHARGES 
Interest expense.................  $1,167    $1,441   $ 5,176    $ 7,087   $ 8,443    $ 8,487   $9,226 
Portion of rent expense 
 representative of an interest 
 factor..........................     123       129       499        478       449        463      437 
                                  -------- --------  --------- ---------  --------- ---------  -------- 
Total fixed charges .............  $1,290    $1,570   $ 5,675    $ 7,565   $ 8,892    $ 8,950   $9,663 
                                  ======== ========  ========= =========  ========= =========  ======== 
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED 
 CHARGES (Note 1) ...............    3.48      2.78      3.80       2.96      1.70       1.36      N/A 
                                  ======== ========  ========= =========  ========= =========  ======== 


Note 1: In 1994, the Company recognized an extraordinary loss of $1,092 on 
the refinancing of debt. 
- ------------ 
   
(a)    For the purpose of determining the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, 
       earnings consist of earnings (loss) before income taxes and fixed 
       charges. Fixed charges consist of interest expense, whether expensed or 
       capitalized, including amortization of deferred financing costs, and 
       the portion of rental expense considered to be interest. For the year 
       ended December 31, 1992, the Company's earnings were insufficient to 
       cover fixed charges by $164.