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                                                                EXHIBIT 10.16

                            SPLIT DOLLAR ASSIGNMENT
                            -----------------------


INSURER:      John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company

INSURED:      William D. Morton II

POLICY NO.:   67090421



  THIS ASSIGNMENT is made by the undersigned Owner effective on the 3rd day of
February, 1995.

DEFINITIONS:

A.  "Assignee":  Morton Metalcraft Co., an Illinois corporation, with principal
    offices at 1021 West Birchwood, Morton, Illinois 61550-0429.

B.  "Owner":  William D. Morton II

C.  "Policy":  The following policy of insurance issued by the Insurer on the
    life the Insured, together with any supplementary contracts issued in
    conjunction therewith: Policy No.: 67090421 Face Amount: $2,000,000

D.  "Policy Interest":  The Assignee's Policy Interest shall be as set forth in
    the Split Dollar Insurance Agreement.  The Insurer shall be entitled to rely
    on the Assignee's certification of the amount of its Policy Interest.

E.  "Split Dollar Agreement":  That certain Agreement of even date herewith,
    between the Owner and the Assignee.  The Insurer is not bound by nor deemed
    to have notice of the provisions of the Split Dollar Insurance Agreement.


RECITALS:

A.  Under the Split Dollar Insurance Agreement, the Assignee has agreed to join
    with the Owner in payment of premiums on the Policy.

B.  In consideration of such premium payments by the Assignee, the Owner here
    intends to grant the Assignee certain limited interests in the Policy.

THEREFORE, for value received, it is agreed:





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     1.   Assignment.  The Owner hereby assigns, transfers and sets over to the
Assignee, its successors and assigns, the following specific rights in the
Policy and subject to the following terms and conditions:

          A.  The right to realize against the cash value of the Policy an 
     amount equal to the unearned portion of the premiums paid by it and the 
     amount in the unearned premium account in the event of the Policy's 
     surrender by the Owner.
        
          B.  The right to realize against proceeds of the Policy, to the 
     extent of its Policy Interest, in the event of the Insured's death.
        
     2.   Retained Rights.  Except as expressly provided in Section 1, the Owner
retains all rights under the Policy including, but not limited to, the
exclusive right to surrender and to borrow against the Policy without the
consent of the Assignee.

     3.   Insurer.  The Insurer is hereby authorized to recognize, and is fully
protected in recognizing:
  
          A.  The claims of the Assignee to rights hereunder, without 
     investigating the reasons for such action by the Assignee, or the 
     validity of the amount of such claims.
        
          B.  The Owner's request for surrender of the Policy without the 
     consent of the Assignee.  Upon the surrender, the Policy shall be 
     terminated and of no further force or effect.
        
     4.   Release of Assignment.  Upon payment to the Assignee of its Policy
Interest, the Assignee shall execute a written release of this Assignment.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Owner and Assignee have executed this Assignment on
the date first above written.


                                  William D. Morton II, Owner
                                  ----------------------------------  
                                  William D. Morton II, Owner

ATTEST:                           MORTON METALCRAFT CO., 
                                  Assignee


By:  Daryl R. Lindemann        By:  William D. Morton II
     ----------------------         -------------------------------- 
     Daryl R. Lindemann,            William D. Morton II, 
     Secretary                      President





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STATE OF ILLINOIS  )
                   ) SS.
COUNTY OF ________ )

  I, the undersigned authority, in and for said County, in said State, hereby
certify that William D. Morton II whose name is signed to the foregoing
assignment and who is known to me, acknowledged before me on this day that,
being informed of the contents of the assignment, William D. Morton II executed
the same voluntarily on the day the same bears date.

  Given under my hand and official seal this 3rd day of
February, 1995.

                                     [SIG]
                               --------------------------------- 
                               Notary Public


                                 ACCEPTANCE

-------------------------------
      "OFFICAL SEAL"
     Judith A. Hasel
Notary Public State of Illinois
My commission Expires 07/08/97
-------------------------------



  This Assignment was received and recorded by John Hancock Mutual Life
Insurance Company on the 10 day of April, 1995.

                               JOHN HANCOCK MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY


                               By:       [SIG]
                                  -------------------------------       
                               Its  Security
                                  -------------------------------




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