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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10(b)

                                 AMENDMENT NO. 8
                                       TO
                            THE LAMSON & SESSIONS CO.
                              DEFERRED SAVINGS PLAN

         THIS AMENDMENT is made this 28th day of December, 2000, by The Lamson &
Sessions Co. (hereinafter referred to as the "Company");

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, the Company maintains The Lamson & Sessions Co. Deferred
Savings Plan (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"); and

         WHEREAS, the Company reserved the right to make certain amendments
thereto; and

         WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Company to amend the Plan in order to
exclude deferrals from gainsharing programs;

         NOW, THEREFORE, the Company hereby amends the Plan, effective as of the
date of this Amendment, as follows:

         1.       Section 2.7 of the Plan is hereby amended by adding subsection
                  (d) thereto, as follows:

                  (d)      any and all gainsharing programs, which provide bonus
                           payments for cost savings and/or increased
                           efficiency.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company, by its duly authorized officers, has
caused this Amendment to be executed as of the day and year first above written.

                                    THE LAMSON & SESSIONS CO.

                                    By: /s/ Charles E. Allen
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                    TRUSTEES:

                                    /s/ James J. Abel
                                    --------------------------------------------

                                    /s/ Charles E. Allen
                                    --------------------------------------------

                                    /s/ Lucille C. Andreano
                                    --------------------------------------------

                                    /s/ Lori L. Spencer
                                    --------------------------------------------<PAGE>   1

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10(c)

                                 AMENDMENT NO. 9
                                       TO
                            THE LAMSON & SESSIONS CO.
                              DEFERRED SAVINGS PLAN

         THIS AMENDMENT is made this 7th day of March, 2001, by The Lamson &
Sessions Co. (hereinafter referred to as the "Company");

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, the Company maintains The Lamson & Sessions Co. Deferred
Savings Plan (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"); and

         WHEREAS, the Company reserved the right to make certain amendments
thereto; and

         WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Company to amend the Plan in order to
add a discretionary Company matching contribution;

         NOW THEREFORE, the Company hereby amends the Plan as follows, effective
as of the dates set forth below:

                                       I.

         Effective on and after January 1, 2000, Section 6.4 of the Plan is
hereby amended by adding the following subsection (c) thereto:

     (c)  For each Salaried Participant and each hourly-paid Participant who is
          not a member of a collective bargaining unit on the last day of the
          Plan Year (i) for whom a salary reduction contribution has been made
          by the Employer pursuant to Section 6.2, and (ii) who is employed on
          the last day of the Plan Year, the Employer may, in the discretion of
          its Board of Directors or by action of an officer designated by the
          Board, for periods commencing on or after January 1, 2000, also
          contribute an additional matching contribution of the percentage of
          such salary reduction contribution as is specified by the Board or its
          delegate; provided, however, that no such matching contribution shall
          be made for salary reduction contributions in excess of the limit set
          forth in Section 7.6, nor in excess of six percent (6%) of the
          Participant's Compensation for any Plan Year.

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                                      II.

         Effective on and after January 1, 2000, Subsection (b) of Section 9.1
of the Plan is hereby amended to provide as follows:

     (b)  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the amount of each Participant's
          matching contribution under Section 6.4(b) and (c), if any, shall be
          contributed or initially invested in Stock. Immediately following such
          contribution or initial investment in Stock, the Participant shall
          have the ongoing option to redirect the investment of such matching
          contribution among the investment options available under the plan.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company, by its duly authorized officers, has
caused this Amendment to be executed as of the day and year first above written.

                                         THE LAMSON & SESSIONS CO.

                                         By: /s/ Charles E. Allen
                                             ----------------------------------

                                         TRUSTEES:

                                         /s/ James J. Abel
                                         --------------------------------------

                                         /s/ Charles E. Allen
                                         --------------------------------------

                                         /s/ Lucille C. Andreano
                                         --------------------------------------

                                         /s/ Lori L. Spencer
                                         --------------------------------------

                                      -2-<PAGE>   1
                                                                  EXHIBIT 10(d)

                   THE 1988 INCENTIVE EQUITY PERFORMANCE PLAN
                                       OF
                            THE LAMSON & SESSIONS CO.

                                    RECITALS

      WHEREAS, The Lamson & Sessions Co., an Ohio corporation (the "Company"),
with the approval of the Company's shareholders, has established the 1988
Incentive Equity Plan of the Company (the "Plan");

      WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") desires to
amend the Plan; and

      WHEREAS, the Board has approved this Amendment (this "Amendment") in
accordance with the provisions of Section 10 of the Plan.

        NOW THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby amends the Plan as follows:

        1. The second sentence of the first paragraph of Section 12(d) of the
Plan is amended to delete the words "Unless otherwise determined by the Company"
and to read in its entirety "Withholding obligations may be settled in Stock,
including Stock that is part of the award that gives rise to the withholding
requirement."

        2. This Amendment shall be effective as of October 19, 2000, upon
approval by the Board.

        3. Except as expressly set forth in this Amendment, the Plan remains
unchanged and continues in full force and effect.<PAGE>   1
                                                                   Exhibit 10(N)

                                 PROMISSORY NOTE

Original Principal Amount                                       Glenwillow, Ohio
$542,750.00                                                        April 2, 2001

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, MICHAEL J. MERRIMAN ("Maker") promises to pay to
the order of ROYAL APPLIANCE MFG. CO. ("Holder") the principal amount of Five
Hundred Forty-Two Thousand Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($542,750) together with
interest thereon, if any, as hereinafter provided.

         1. PRINCIPAL. The principal amount hereof shall be due and payable in
full on April 2, 2008 or, if earlier, twelve (12) months after Maker's voluntary
termination of employment with Royal Appliance (the "Maturity Date").

         2. INTEREST. The principal amount outstanding under this Promissory
Note from time to time shall not bear interest. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
in the event any principal payment is not made when due, either at maturity or
by acceleration, interest on the unpaid principal shall accrue at the annual
rate of twelve percent (12%) from the date payment was due until the overdue
payment is made.

         3. PAYMENT IN FULL ON MATURITY DATE. Maker shall pay the full amount
then due under this Promissory Note, both principal and interest (including
compounded interest) in a single payment on the maturity Date. Payment of the
principal of and interest on this Promissory Note shall be made in lawful money
of the United States of America to Holder at 7005 Cochran Road, Glenwillow, Ohio
44139 or to such other payee or at such other address as may be designated to
Maker by Holder from time to time.

         4. MANDATORY PREPAYMENT ON SALE OF SHARES. Maker has used the proceeds
of the loan from Holder that is evidenced by this Promissory Note to fund the
exercise of certain options for 167,000 Royal Appliance Mfg. Co. Common Shares
(the "Shares") and the taxes incurred in connection with that exercise. Upon any
sale of any portion of the Shares, Maker shall promptly pay to Holder such
amount, if any, as is necessary so that, immediately after that payment, the
portion of the original principal on this Promissory Note that has been repaid,
and as to which all accrued interest, if any, has been paid, is at least
directly proportionate to the portion of the 167,000 Shares that have been sold
by Maker through the date of that payment. For example, if, on a particular date
Maker, having not previously sold any of the Shares and having not previously
made any payment on this Promissory Note, sells 41,750 Shares (1/4 of the
original number), Maker shall promptly pay to Holder at least $135,687.50 of
principal (1/4 of the original principal), together with any accrued interest on
that amount of principal.

<PAGE>   2

         5. WAIVER OF DEMAND, ETC. Maker waives demand, presentment, notice of
dishonor, protest, notice of protest, and diligence in collection and bringing
suit and agrees that Holder may extend the time for payment, accept partial
payment, or take security therefor without discharging or releasing Maker.

         6. GOVERNING LAW. This Promissory Note has been executed in Glenwillow,
Ohio. The construction, validity, and enforceability of this Promissory Note
shall be governed by the laws of the State of Ohio applicable to promissory
notes made and to be satisfied entirely within the State of Ohio.

         7. COSTS OF ENFORCEMENT. Maker agrees to pay all costs and expenses
(including reasonable attorneys' fees) incurred by Holder in the collection of
this Promissory Note and in the enforcement of the rights under this Promissory
Note.

         8. WAIVER. Maker, to the extent not prohibited by law, waives any right
to have a jury participate in resolving any dispute, whether sounding in
contract, tort or otherwise, between Holder and Maker arising out of, in
connection with, related to, or incidental to the relationship established
between Maker and Holder in connection with this Promissory Note, or any other
agreement, instrument, or document executed or delivered in connection therewith
or the transactions related thereto. This waiver shall not in any way affect,
waive, limit, amend, or modify the ability of any Holder hereof to pursue
remedies pursuant to any confession of judgment or cognovit provision contained
in this Note.

         9. PREPAYMENT. Maker may prepay all or any portion of the principal sum
hereof at any time without penalty. All such prepayments shall be applied to the
payment of the principal due hereon, and shall be accompanied by the payment of
accrued interest, if any, on the amount of the prepayment to the date thereof.

         10. SECURITY. Security for repayment of this Note has been given in the
form of a pledge on the 167,000 Shares, pursuant to a Pledge Agreement of even
date herewith.

         11. WARRANT OF ATTORNEY. Maker hereby irrevocably authorizes any
attorney-at-law to appear for Maker in an action on this Promissory Note at any
time after the same becomes due, whether by acceleration or otherwise, in any
court of record in the State of Ohio or elsewhere and to waive the issuing of
service of process against Maker, and to confess judgment in favor of the Holder
against Maker for all amounts that may be due, together with costs of suit, and
thereupon to waive all errors and all rights of appeal and stays of execution in
respect of the judgment rendered. Maker hereby expressly (a) waives any conflict
of interest in an attorney retained by the Holder confessing judgment against
Maker upon this Promissory Note, and (b) consents to any attorney retained by
the Holder receiving a legal fee or other value for legal services rendered for
confessing judgment against Maker upon this Promissory Note. The foregoing
warrant of attorney

                                       2
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shall survive any judgment, and if any judgment is vacated for any reason, the
Holder may thereafter use the foregoing warrant of attorney to obtain an
additional judgment or judgments against Maker. A copy of this Promissory Note,
certified by the Holder, may be filed in any proceeding in place of filing the
original as a warrant of attorney.

"WARNING -- BY SIGNING THIS PAPER YOU GIVE UP YOUR RIGHT TO NOTICE AND COURT
TRIAL. IF YOU DO NOT PAY ON TIME A COURT JUDGMENT MAY BE TAKEN AGAINST YOU
WITHOUT YOUR PRIOR KNOWLEDGE AND THE POWERS OF A COURT CAN BE USED TO COLLECT
FROM YOU REGARDLESS OF ANY CLAIMS YOU MAY HAVE AGAINST THE CREDITOR WHETHER FOR
RETURNED GOODS, FAULTY GOODS, FAILURE ON HIS PART TO COMPLY WITH THE AGREEMENT,
OR ANY OTHER CAUSE."

                                                --------------------------------
                                                Michael J. Merriman

                                       3

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