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                                                                EXHIBIT 3.1(a)
                                                                PAGE 1 OF 3


                              STATE OF DELAWARE
                       OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
                       --------------------------------

        I, EDWARD J. FREEL, SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, DO
HEREBY CERTIFY THE ATTACHED IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF
AMENDMENT OF "LABARGE, INC.", FILED IN THIS OFFICE ON THE THIRTEENTH DAY OF
NOVEMBER, A.D. 1997, AT 10 O'CLOCK A.M.

        A CERTIFIED COPY OF THIS CERTIFICATE HAS BEEN FORWARDED TO THE NEW
CASTLE COUNTY RECORDER OF DEEDS FOR RECORDING.





                                                     Edward J. Freel
                                    [SEAL]  ----------------------------------- 
                                            Edward J. Freel, Secretary of State

        0672724     8100                     AUTHENTICATION:    8757031

 
       971386654                                       DATE:    11-14-97



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                           CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
                                      OF
                    RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
                                      
                                      OF
                                      
                                LaBARGE, INC.

        LaBarge, Inc., a corporation organized and exisiting under and by
virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, DOES HEREBY
CERTIFY:

        FIRST:  That at a meeting of the Board of Directors of LaBarge, Inc. 
held on August 12, 1997 resolutions were duly adopted setting forth a
proposed amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of said
corporation, declaring said amendment to be advisable and calling a meeting of
the Stockholders of said corporation for consideration thereof.  The resolution
setting forth the proposed amended is as follows:


              RESOLVED, that the Restated Certificate of Incorporation 
              of this corporation be amended by changing Article FOURTH 
              thereof so that, as amended said Article shall be and read 
              as follows:
        

                
                "FOURTH: The total number of shares of common stock which the
              corporation shall have authority to issue is 40,000,000.  The par
              value of each of such shares of common stock is 1 cent.  The
              total number of shares of preferred stock which the corporation
              shall have authority to issue is 2,000,000 shares.  The par value
              of each such share of preferred stock is $1.00 per share.  The
              preferred stock may be issued from time to time, in one or more
              series, with such designations, preferences and relative,
              participating, optional or other rights, qualifications,
              limitations or restrictions thereof as shall be stated and
              expressed in the resolution or resolutions providing for the
              issue of such series adopted by the Board of Directors from time
              to time, pursuant to the authority hereby given.  A copy of such 
              resolution or resolutions shall be set forth in a  certificate
              made, executed, acknowledged, filed and recorded in the manner
              required by the laws of the State of Delaware in order to make
              the same effective.  Each series shall consist of such number of
              shares as shall be stated and expressed in such resolution or
              resolutions providing for the issuance of the stock of such
              series.  All shares of any one series of preferred stock shall be
              alike in every particular."
                
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        SECOND:  That thereafter, pursuant to resolution of its Board of
Directors, the annual meeting of the stockholders of said corporation was duly
called and held on October 21, 1997, upon notice in accordance with Section 222
of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware at which meeting the
necessary number of shares as required by statute were voted in favor of the
amendment.

        THIRD:  That said amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the
provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, said LaBarge, Inc. has caused this certificate to
be signed by William J. Maender, its Vice-President, this 7th day of November,
1997.

                                                LaBARGE, INC.



                                                By: /s/ William J. Maender
                                                   ----------------------------
                                                        William J. Maender
                                                        Vice-President



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