<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS FOUND ON PAGES 2 AND 3 OF THE COMPANY'S FORM 10-Q FOR THE YEAR TO DATE AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 744,495 <SECURITIES> 491,806 <RECEIVABLES> 3,143,581 <ALLOWANCES> 40,000 <INVENTORY> 16,216,241 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 21,307,183 <PP&E> 5,406,066 <DEPRECIATION> 973,672 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 25,739,577 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 4,556,026 <BONDS> 7,438,519 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 78,960 <OTHER-SE> 13,666,072 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 13,745,032 <SALES> 30,911,020 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 30,911,020 <CGS> 23,287,612 <TOTAL-COSTS> 23,287,612 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 2,864,809 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 383,610 <INCOME-PRETAX> 4,546,335 <INCOME-TAX> 1,705,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 2,841,335 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,841,335 <EPS-PRIMARY> .37 <EPS-DILUTED> .33<F1> <FN> <F1>* Includes addback of after-tax effect of interest expense for convertible debentures </FN>