Document:

<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10(b)

                            THE LAMSON & SESSIONS CO.
            SECOND AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

         This Second Amendment to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
(herein, the "Amendment") is entered into as of October 31, 2001, to be
effective as of September 30, 2001, among The Lamson & Sessions Co., an Ohio
corporation (the "Borrower"), the Guarantors party hereto, the Lenders party
hereto, and Harris Trust and Savings Bank, as Administrative Agent for the
Lenders.

                             PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

          A. The Borrower, the Guarantors, the Lenders and the Administrative
Agent are parties to an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of
December 15, 2000 (the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, as the same has
been amended prior to the date hereof, being referred to herein as the "Credit
Agreement"). All capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the
same meanings herein as such terms have in the Credit Agreement.

          B. The Borrower has requested that the Lenders reduce the commitments,
amend certain financial covenants and make certain other amendments to the
Credit Agreement, and the Lenders are willing to do so under the terms and
conditions set forth in this Amendment.

         NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as
follows:

SECTION 1.           AMENDMENTS.

         Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in
Section 2 below, the Credit Agreement shall be and hereby is amended as follows:

         1.1. The following definition shall be added to Section 5.1 of the
Credit Agreement in proper alphabetical sequence:

                  "Seasonal Period" means the period from and including April
         1st of each year through and including October 31st of such year.

         1.2. The definition of "Applicable Margin" appearing in Section 5.1 of
the Credit Agreement shall be amended and restated in its entirety effective as
of September 30, 2001 to read as follows:

<PAGE>

                  "Applicable Margin" means the following with respect to Loans,
         Reimbursement Obligations, and Revolving Credit Commitment and Letter
         of Credit fees payable under Section 2.1 hereof, the rate per annum
         specified below:

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                           <C>
               Applicable Margin for Base Rate Loans and Reimbursement Obligations:           1.75%

               Applicable Margin for Eurodollar Loans and Letter of Credit fee:               3.50%

               Applicable Margin for Revolving Credit Commitment fee:                          .50%
</TABLE>

         provided, however, that the Applicable Margin shall be subject to
         quarterly adjustments on each Pricing Date, and from one Pricing Date
         to the next the Applicable Margin shall mean a rate per annum
         determined in accordance with the following schedule:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                           APPLICABLE MARGIN         APPLICABLE MARGIN            APPLICABLE
                                          FOR BASE RATE LOANS      FOR EURODOLLAR LOANS      MARGIN FOR REVOLVING
          TOTAL FUNDED DEBT/ EBITDA        AND REIMBURSEMENT       AND LETTER OF CREDIT     CREDIT COMMITMENT FEE
         RATIO FOR SUCH PRICING DATE     OBLIGATIONS SHALL BE          FEE SHALL BE:              SHALL BE:

<S>                                           <C>                       <C>                        <C>
        Greater than or equal to 4.5
        to 1.0                                  1.75%                     3.50%                      .50%

        Greater than or equal to
        3.75 to 1.0, but less than
        4.5 to 1.0                              1.25%                     3.00%                      .50%

        Greater than or equal to 3.0
        to 1.0, but less than 3.75
        to 1.0                                   .75%                     2.50%                      .50%

        Greater than or equal to 2.5
        to 1.0, but less than 3.0 to
        1.0                                      .50%                     2.25%                      .40%

        Greater than or equal to 2.0
        to 1.0, but less than 2.5 to
        1.0                                      .25%                     2.00%                      .35%

        Greater than or equal to 1.5
        to 1.0, but less than 2.0 to
        1.0.                                      0%                      1.75%                      .30%

        Less than 1.5 to 1.0                      0%                      1.50%                      .25%
</TABLE>

         For purposes hereof, the term "Pricing Date" means, for any fiscal
         quarter of the Borrower ending on or about March 31, 2002, the date on
         which the Administrative Agent is in receipt of the Borrower's most
         recent financial statements for the fiscal quarter then ended (and in
         the case of the year-end financial statements, audit report),

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

         pursuant to Section 8.5 hereof. The Applicable Margin shall be
         established based on the Total Funded Debt/EBITDA Ratio for the most
         recently completed fiscal quarter and the Applicable Margin established
         on a Pricing Date shall remain in effect until the next Pricing Date.
         If the Borrower has not delivered its financial statements (and, in the
         case of the year-end financial statements, audit report) by the date
         such financial statements are required to be delivered under Section
         8.5 hereof, until such financial statements are delivered, the
         Applicable Margin shall be the highest Applicable Margin (i.e., the
         Total Funded Debt/EBITDA Ratio shall be deemed to be greater than 4.5
         to 1.0). If the Borrower subsequently delivers such financial
         statements before the next Pricing Date, the Applicable Margin
         established by such late delivered financial statements shall take
         effect from the date of delivery until the next Pricing Date. In all
         other circumstances, the Applicable Margin established by such
         financial statements shall be in effect from the Pricing Date that
         occurs immediately after the end of the fiscal quarter covered by such
         financial statements until the next Pricing Date. Each determination of
         the Applicable Margin made by the Administrative Agent in accordance
         with the foregoing shall be conclusive and binding on the Borrower and
         the Lenders if reasonably determined.

         1.3. The definitions of "EBITDA", "L/C Commitment" and "Revolving
Credit Commitment" appearing in Section 5.1 of the Credit Agreement shall each
be amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

                  "EBITDA" means, with respect to any period, Net Income for
         such period plus (A) all amounts deducted in arriving at such Net
         Income in respect of (a) Interest Expense, plus (b) federal, state,
         local, and foreign income taxes for such period, plus (c) amounts
         properly charged for depreciation of fixed assets and amortization of
         intangible assets during such period, plus (d) any charges to Net
         Income during such period which are non-cash, non-recurring expenses
         arising from the rationalization of the Borrower's facilities, product
         lines or personnel, up to a maximum amount equal to 10% of Net Worth at
         the end of such period, plus (e) any charges to Net Income during such
         period (up to $15,000,000 in the aggregate during the term of this
         Agreement, including any such charges accrued prior to the Effective
         Date) associated with the Intermatic Litigation, plus (f) for any
         fiscal quarter ending after January 1, 2002, any non-cash expenses
         incurred with respect to its Plans during such period, plus (g) for any
         fiscal quarter ending after January 1, 2002, any cash expenses incurred
         with respect to its Plans during such period up to a maximum amount of
         $500,000 minus (B) the sum of (a) any recapture, recoveries, or other
         credits to Net Income during such period associated with the Intermatic
         Litigation and (b) any recapture, recoveries or other credits to Net
         Income during such period incurred with respect to its Plans; provided,
         however, that EBITDA for the relevant period shall be calculated on a
         pro forma basis in good faith by the Borrower and established to the
         reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent as if each
         Permitted Acquisition which occurred during such period had taken place
         on the first day of such period (including adjustments for
         non-recurring expenses and income reasonably determined by the Borrower
         in good faith and established to the reasonable satisfaction of the
         Administrative Agent). In the event that any such non-cash charge is
         excluded from the computation of EBITDA for a given period pursuant to
         clause (d) above but the circumstances giving rise to such charge have
         a cash impact in a

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

         subsequent period which would have reduced EBITDA but for the charge in
         the prior period, such impact shall be taken into account in computing
         EBITDA in the period when such impact occurs.

                  "L/C Commitment" means $31,000,000, as reduced pursuant to the
         terms hereof; provided, however, that the L/C Commitment shall be
         increased to $38,500,000 so long as (i) the Letters of Credit issued to
         the entity providing the supersedeas bond in connection with the
         Intermatic Litigation remain outstanding, and (ii) the Letter of Credit
         to be issued to Intermatic, Inc. has been issued and remains
         outstanding.

                  "Revolving Credit Commitment" means, as to any Lender, the
         obligation of such Lender to make Revolving Loans and to participate in
         Letters of Credit issued for the account of the Borrower hereunder in
         an aggregate principal or face amount at any one time outstanding not
         to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender's name on Schedule
         1 attached hereto and made a part hereof, as the same may be reduced or
         modified at any time or from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof.
         The Borrower and the Lenders acknowledge and agree that the Revolving
         Credit Commitments of the Lenders aggregate $125,000,000 upon the
         effectiveness of the Second Amendment hereto.

         1.4. Subsection (a) of Section 8.5 shall be amended and restated in its
entirety to read as follows:

                   (a) (i) for each monthly accounting period ending on or
         before December 31, 2003, as soon as available, and in any event within
         30 days after the close of each fiscal month, a copy of the
         consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of
         the last day of such period and the consolidated statements of income,
         retained earnings, and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
         for the fiscal month and for the fiscal year-to-date period then ended,
         each in reasonable detail and showing in comparative form the figures
         for the corresponding date and period in the previous fiscal year,
         prepared by the Borrower in accordance with GAAP (subject to the
         absence of footnote disclosures and year-end audit adjustments) and
         certified to by its chief financial officer or another officer of the
         Borrower acceptable to the Administrative Agent and (ii) from and after
         January 1, 2004, as soon as available, and in any event within 45 days
         after the close of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each
         fiscal year, a copy of the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower
         and its Subsidiaries as of the last day of such period and the
         consolidated statements of income, retained earnings, and cash flows of
         the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal quarter and for the
         fiscal year-to-date period then ended, each in reasonable detail and
         showing in comparative form the figures for the corresponding date and
         period in the previous fiscal year, prepared by the Borrower in
         accordance with GAAP (subject to the absence of footnote disclosures
         and year-end audit adjustments) and certified to by its chief financial
         officer or another officer of the Borrower acceptable to the
         Administrative Agent;

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

         1.5. Subsection (h) of Section 8.5 shall be amended and restated in its
entirety to read as follows:

                   (h) (i) for each monthly accounting period ending on or
         before December 31, 2003, as soon as available, and in any event within
         30 days after the last day of each fiscal month of the Borrower, a
         written certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E signed by
         the chief financial officer of the Borrower, or such other officer of
         the Borrower acceptable to the Administrative Agent, to the effect that
         to the best of such officer's knowledge and belief no Default or Event
         of Default has occurred during the period covered by the most recent
         financial statements furnished pursuant to Section 8.5(a) or Section
         8.5(b) above or, if any such Default or Event of Default has occurred
         during such period, setting forth a description of such Default or
         Event of Default and specifying the action, if any, taken by the
         Borrower to remedy the same together with calculations supporting such
         statements in respect of (x) for each fiscal month end which is also a
         fiscal quarter end, Sections 8.21, 8.22, 8.23, 8.24, 8.25 and 8.27 of
         this Agreement and (y) for each fiscal month end which is not a fiscal
         quarter end, Sections 8.21, 8.24 and 8.25 of this Agreement; and (ii)
         from and after January 1, 2004, as soon as available, and in any event
         within 45 days after the last day of each fiscal quarter of the
         Borrower, a written certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
         E signed by the chief financial officer of the Borrower, or such other
         officer of the Borrower acceptable to the Administrative Agent, to the
         effect that to the best of such officer's knowledge and belief no
         Default or Event of Default has occurred during the period covered by
         the most recent financial statements furnished pursuant to Section
         8.5(a) or Section 8.5(b) above or, if any such Default or Event of
         Default has occurred during such period, setting forth a description of
         such Default or Event of Default and specifying the action, if any,
         taken by the Borrower to remedy the same together with calculations
         supporting such statements in respect of Sections 8.21, 8.22, 8.23,
         8.24, 8.25 and 8.27 of this Agreement.

         1.6. Subsections (j) and (k) Section 8.9 of the Credit Agreement shall
be amended and restated in their entirety to read as follows:

                   (j) Permitted Acquisitions occurring after receipt of the
         compliance certificate delivered by the Borrower pursuant to Section
         8.5(h) hereof for the fiscal quarter ending on or about December 31,
         2003; and

                   (k) other investments, loans, and advances in addition to
         those otherwise permitted by this Section, including investments in
         joint ventures entered into in the ordinary course of business, in an
         aggregate amount not to exceed $2,500,000 at any one time outstanding,
         made after receipt of the compliance certificate delivered by the
         Borrower pursuant to Section 8.5(h) hereof for the fiscal quarter
         ending on or about December 31, 2003.

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

         1.7. Section 8.12 of the Credit Agreement shall be amended and restated
in its entirety to read as follows:

                  Section 8.12. Dividends and Certain Other Restricted Payments.
         The Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to,
         declare or pay any dividends on or make any other distributions in
         respect of any class or series of its capital stock, or directly or
         indirectly purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire any of its
         capital stock (collectively, "Restricted Payments"); provided, however,
         that the foregoing shall not operate to prevent: (a) the making of
         dividends or distributions to the Borrower by any of its Subsidiaries
         and (b) at any time after December 31, 2003, the making of Restricted
         Payments by the Borrower so long as (i) no Default or Event of Default
         then exists or would arise after giving effect thereto and (ii) the
         aggregate amount of such Restricted Payments made by the Borrower
         during any fiscal year of the Borrower shall not exceed $5,000,000.

         1.8. Section 8.22 of the Credit Agreement shall be amended and restated
in its entirety to read as follows:

                  Section 8.22. Total Funded Debt/EBITDA Ratio. The Borrower
         shall not, as of the last day of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower
         specified below, permit the Total Funded Debt/EBITDA Ratio to be more
         than:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                TOTAL FUNDED DEBT/EBITDA RATIO SHALL
                FISCAL QUARTER ENDING ON OR ABOUT:                       NOT BE MORE THAN:

                <S>                                                      <C>
                        September 30, 2001                                  4.75 to 1.0
                        December 31, 2001                                   5.40 to 1.0
                          March 31, 2002                                    5.55 to 1.0
                          June 30, 2002                                     5.35 to 1.0
                        September 30, 2002                                  4.40 to 1.0
                        December 31, 2002                                   4.00 to 1.0
                          March 31, 2003                                    3.95 to 1.0
                          June 30, 2003                                     3.95 to 1.0
                        September 30, 2003                                  3.65 to 1.0
                        December 31, 2003                                   3.25 to 1.0
                          March 31, 2004                                    3.00 to 1.0
                          June 30, 2004                                     3.00 to 1.0
                September 30, 2004 and each fiscal                          2.75 to 1.0
                    quarter ending thereafter
</TABLE>

it being understood that Total Funded Debt shall not include $7,500,000 of
Letters of Credit issued to Amwest Insurance in connection with the Intermatic
Litigation during any period in which the L/C Commitment has been increased to
$38.5 million.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

         1.9. Section 8.23 of the Credit Agreement shall be amended and restated
in its entirety to read as follows:

                  Section 8.23. Interest Coverage Ratio. The Borrower shall not,
         as of the last day of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower specified
         below, permit the ratio of (a) EBITDA for the four fiscal quarters of
         the Borrower then ended to (b) Interest Expense for the same four
         fiscal quarters then ended to be less than:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                INTEREST COVERAGE RATIO SHALL NOT BE
               FISCAL QUARTER ENDING ON OR ABOUT:                            LESS THAN:

<S>                                                                      <C>
                       September 30, 2001                                    3.05 to 1.0
                        December 31, 2001                                    2.45 to 1.0
                         March 31, 2002                                      2.35 to 1.0
                          June 30, 2002                                      2.45 to 1.0
                       September 30, 2002                                    2.80 to 1.0
                        December 31, 2002                                    2.85 to 1.0
                         March 31, 2003                                      3.05 to 1.0
                          June 30, 2003                                      3.15 to 1.0
                       September 30, 2003                                    3.30 to 1.0
                        December 31, 2003                                    3.50 to 1.0
             March 31, 2004, and each fiscal quarter                         4.00 to 1.0
                        ending thereafter
</TABLE>

         1.10. Section 8.24 of the Credit Agreement shall be amended and
restated in its entirety to read as follows:

                  Section 8.24. Capital Expenditures. The Borrower shall not,
         nor shall it permit any Subsidiary to, incur Capital Expenditures in an
         aggregate amount in excess of (a) $10,000,000 during the fiscal year
         ending on or about December 31, 2001, (b) $12,500,000 during the fiscal
         years ending on or about December 31, 2002 and December 31, 2003, and
         (c) $15,000,000 during any fiscal year of the Borrower ending
         thereafter.

         1.11. Section 8.27 of the Credit Agreement shall be amended and
restated in its entirety to read as follows:

                  Section 8.27. Minimum EBITDA. As of the last day of each
         fiscal quarter of the Borrower specified below, the Borrower shall not
         permit EBITDA for the four fiscal quarters of the Borrower then ended
         to be less than:

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                             EBITDA FOR FOUR FISCAL QUARTERS THEN
               FISCAL QUARTER ENDING ON OR ABOUT:                ENDED SHALL NOT BE LESS THAN

<S>                                                               <C>
                       September 30, 2001                                $31,300,000
                       December 31, 2001                                 $27,000,000
                         March 31, 2002                                  $26,700,000
                         June 30, 2002                                   $28,200,000
                       September 30, 2002                                $32,400,000
                       December 31, 2002                                 $33,700,000
                         March 31, 2003                                  $35,000,000
                         June 30, 2003                                   $35,800,000
                       September 30, 2003                                $36,500,000
                       December 31, 2003                                 $37,500,000
                         March 31, 2004                                  $38,200,000
                         June 30, 2004                                   $39,200,000
               September 30, 2004 and each fiscal                        $40,000,000
                   quarter ending thereafter
</TABLE>

         1.12. Section 8 of the Credit Agreement shall be amended by adding a
new Section 8.28 at the end thereof to read as follows:

                           Section 8.28. Level of Borrowings. Notwithstanding
                  the Revolving Credit Commitments or anything contained herein
                  to the contrary, unless EBITDA has exceeded $40,000,000 for
                  the past two consecutive fiscal quarters (in which case the
                  following restrictions shall not apply), the Borrower agrees
                  that (a) during the Seasonal Period, the sum of the aggregate
                  principal amount of Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Loans
                  shall not exceed $94,000,000, plus the sum of (i) amounts paid
                  by the Borrower in settlement or satisfaction of claims
                  relating to the Intermatic Litigation, (ii) amounts paid in
                  cash by the Borrower to fund its Plans up to a maximum of
                  $3,000,000 and (iii) the principal amount of any Reimbursement
                  Obligations reimbursed to the Administrative Agent with the
                  proceeds of one or more Revolving Credit Loans, and (b) at all
                  times other than the Seasonal Period, the sum of the aggregate
                  principal amount of Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Loans
                  shall not exceed $84,000,000, plus the sum of (i) amounts paid
                  by the Borrower in settlement or satisfaction of claims
                  relating to the Intermatic Litigation, (ii) amounts paid in
                  cash by the Borrower to fund its Plans up to a maximum of
                  $3,000,000 and (iii) the principal amount of any

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

                  Reimbursement Obligations reimbursed to the Administrative
                  Agent with the proceeds of one or more Revolving Credit Loans.

         1.13. Section 9(b) of the Credit Agreement shall be amended and
restated in its entirety to read as follows:

                           (b) default in the observance or performance of any
                  covenant set forth in Sections 8.1, 8.5(a), 8.5(b), 8.5(e),
                  8.5(f), 8.5(g), 8.5(h), 8.7, 8.8, 8.9, 8.10, 8.11, 8.12, 8.16,
                  8.18, 8.21, 8.22, 8.23, 8.24, 8.25, 8.27 or 8.28 hereof or of
                  any provision in any Loan Document dealing with the use,
                  disposition or remittance of the proceeds of Collateral or
                  requiring the maintenance of insurance thereon;

         1.14. Schedule 1 to the Credit Agreement shall be amended and restated
in its entirety to read as set forth on Schedule 1 hereto.

SECTION 2.        CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.

         The effectiveness of this Amendment is subject to the satisfaction of
all of the following conditions precedent:

         2.1. The Borrower, the Administrative Agent, and the Required Lenders
shall have executed and delivered this Amendment.

         2.2. The Administrative Agent shall have received an amendment fee in
the amount of $425,000 for the ratable account of the Lenders who consent to
this Amendment to the satisfaction of the Administration Agent on or before
12:00 noon Eastern time on November 1, 2001.

         2.3. The Guarantors shall have executed and delivered to the
Administrative Agent their consent to this Amendment in the space provided
below.

         2.4. Legal matters incident to the execution and delivery of this
Amendment shall be satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

SECTION 3.        REPRESENTATIONS.

         In order to induce the Lenders to execute and deliver this Amendment,
the Borrower hereby represents to the Lenders that as of the date hereof, and
after giving effect to the waivers and amendments provided for in this
Amendment, (a) the representations and warranties set forth in Section 6 of the
Credit Agreement are and shall be and remain true and correct (except that the
representations contained in Section 6.5 shall be deemed to refer to the most
recent financial statements of the Borrower delivered to the Lenders) and (b)
the Borrower is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Credit
Agreement and no Default or Event of Default has

                                      -9-
<PAGE>

occurred and is continuing under the Credit Agreement or shall result after
giving effect to this Amendment.

SECTION 4.        MISCELLANEOUS.

        4.1. The Borrower and the Guarantors have heretofore or concurrently
herewith executed and delivered to the Lenders the Mortgages, the Security
Agreement, the Pledge Agreement, and certain other Collateral Documents. The
Borrower and, by signing below, the Guarantors, hereby acknowledge and agree
that the Liens created and provided for by the Collateral Documents continue to
secure, among other things, the Obligations arising under the Credit Agreement
as amended hereby; and the Collateral Documents and the rights and remedies of
the Lenders thereunder, the obligations of the Borrower and the Guarantors
thereunder, and the Liens created and provided for thereunder remain in full
force and effect and shall not be affected, impaired or discharged hereby.
Nothing herein contained shall in any manner affect or impair the priority of
the liens and security interests created and provided for by the Collateral
Documents as to the indebtedness which would be secured thereby prior to giving
effect to this Amendment.

        4.2. Except as specifically amended herein, the Credit Agreement shall
continue in full force and effect in accordance with its original terms.
Reference to this specific Amendment need not be made in the Credit Agreement,
the Notes, or any other instrument or document executed in connection therewith,
or in any certificate, letter or communication issued or made pursuant to or
with respect to the Credit Agreement, any reference in any of such items to the
Credit Agreement being sufficient to refer to the Credit Agreement as amended
hereby.

        4.3. The Borrower agrees to pay on demand all reasonable costs and
expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the
negotiation, preparation, execution and delivery of this Amendment, including
the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Administrative Agent.

        4.4. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, and
by the different parties on different counterpart signature pages, all of which
taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Any of the parties
hereto may execute this Amendment by signing any such counterpart and each of
such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original. This
Amendment shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of Illinois.

                           [SIGNATURE PAGE TO FOLLOW]

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

         This Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement is
entered into as of the date and year first above written.

                            "BORROWER"

                            THE LAMSON & SESSIONS CO.

                            By /s/ James J. Abel
                               -------------------------------------------------
                                Name     James J. Abel
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                Title    Executive Vice President & CFO
                                         ---------------------------------------

                            "GUARANTORS"

                            CARLON CHIMES CO.

                            By /s/ James J. Abel
                               -------------------------------------------------
                                Name     James J. Abel
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                Title    Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer
                                         ---------------------------------------

                            DIMANGO PRODUCTS CORPORATION

                            By  /s/ James J. Abel
                                ------------------------------------------------
                                Name     James J. Abel
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                Title    Secretary
                                         ---------------------------------------

                            PYRAMID INDUSTRIES II, INC.

                            By  /s/ James J. Abel
                               -------------------------------------------------
                                Name     James J. Abel
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                Title    Vice President & Treasurer
                                         ---------------------------------------

                            VISIONTEQ, INC.

                            By  /s/ James J. Abel
                                ------------------------------------------------
                                Name     James J. Abel
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                Title    Secretary & Treasurer
                                         ---------------------------------------

                                      -11-

<PAGE>

                            "LENDERS"

                            HARRIS TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK, in its individual
                               capacity as a Lender and as Administrative Agent

                            By  /s/ Sarah U. Johnston
                                ------------------------------------------------
                                Name  Sarah U. Johnston
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                Title Vice President
                                      ------------------------------------------

                            BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

                            By  /s/ Michael Staunton
                                ------------------------------------------------
                                Name  Michael Staunton
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                Title Vice President
                                      ------------------------------------------

                            NATIONAL CITY BANK

                            By  /s/ Judith M. Kuclo
                                ------------------------------------------------
                                Name  Judith M. Kuclo
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                Title Vice President
                                      ------------------------------------------

                            PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

                            By  /s/ Ronald L. Bovill
                                ------------------------------------------------
                                Name  Ronald L. Bovill
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                Title Sr. Vice President
                                      ------------------------------------------

                            MELLON BANK, N.A.

                            By /s/ William P. McGreehan
                               -------------------------------------------------
                                Name  William P. McGreehan
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                Title Vice President
                                      ------------------------------------------

                                      -12-

<PAGE>

                            BANK ONE, N.A.

                            By  /s/ James M. Malz
                                ------------------------------------------------
                                Name  James M. Malz
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                Title First Vice President
                                      ------------------------------------------

                            THE HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK

                            By  /s/ Stan Sarwer
                                ------------------------------------------------
                                Name  Stan Sarwer
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                Title Vice President
                                      ------------------------------------------

                            FIFTH THIRD BANK, NORTHEASTERN OHIO

                            By  /s/ Roy C. Lanctot
                                ------------------------------------------------
                                Name  Roy C. Lanctot
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                Title Vice President
                                      ------------------------------------------

                            KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

                            By  /s/ J.T. Taylor
                                ------------------------------------------------
                                Name  J.T. Taylor
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                Title Vice President
                                      ------------------------------------------

                            LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

                            By  /s/ Jeffrey L. Miller
                                ------------------------------------------------
                                Name  Jeffrey L. Miller
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                Title Vice President
                                      ------------------------------------------

                                      -13-<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10(c)

                            THE LAMSON & SESSIONS CO.

    FORM OF TWO-YEAR NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT UNDER THE COMPANY'S
                           1998 INCENTIVE EQUITY PLAN

                 This Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement (the "Agreement")
dated as of Date of Grant by and between The Lamson & Sessions Co., an Ohio
corporation (the "Company"), and OPTIONEE'S NAME AND TITLE of the Company
(hereinafter called the "Optionee").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:
                              --------------------

                 WHEREAS, on April 24, 1998 the Company's shareholders approved
the 1998 Incentive Equity Plan (the "Plan"); and

                 WHEREAS, pursuant to the Plan, the Compensation and
Organization Committee (the "Committee") of the Board of Directors of the
Company is authorized to (i) select which key employees and officers of the
Company will receive grants of stock options under the Plan, (ii) determine the
size of such grants and (iii) determine the terms and conditions applicable to
any such grants pursuant to the Plan; and

                 WHEREAS, the Committee approved this grant to the Optionee on
the Grant Date.

                 NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the Plan the Company hereby grants
to the Optionee this Non-Qualified Stock Option (this "Option") to purchase
NUMBER OF SHARES (0,000) common shares, without par value ("Common Shares"), of
the Company at a purchase price of DOLLARS AND 000/1000 ($0.00) per share (the
"Option Price"), which purchase price is not less than the mean between the
highest and lowest quoted selling price, regular way, of the Common Shares on
the New York Stock Exchange on the Grant Date. The Company agrees to cause
certificates for any Common Shares purchased hereunder to be delivered to the
Optionee upon payment of the purchase price in full, all subject, however, to
the terms and conditions of the Plan and the terms and conditions hereinafter
set forth. This Option is intended to be a non-qualified stock option and shall
not be treated as an "incentive stock option" within the meaning of that term
under Section 422 of the Code, or any successor provision thereto.

1.               DEFINITIONS. Defined terms not otherwise defined herein shall
         have the meanings assigned to them in the Plan, unless the context
         clearly indicates otherwise. For purposes of this Agreement, the
         following term is defined as set forth below:

                 "Subsidiary" means a corporation, partnership, joint venture,
unincorporated association or other entity in which the Company has a direct or
indirect ownership or other equity interest.

2.               VESTING OF OPTION. This Option (until terminated or exercised
         as hereinafter provided) shall be exercisable (a) only to the extent of
         one-half of the Common Shares hereinabove specified on the first
         anniversary of the Grant Date if during the ensuing one year period
         commencing on the Grant Date and ending on the first anniversary
         thereof, the Optionee shall have been in the continuous full-time
         employ of the Company or any Subsidiary and (b) to the extent of the
         remaining one-half of such Common Shares on the second anniversary of
         the Grant Date if the Optionee shall have been in the continuous
         full-time employ of the Company or of any Subsidiary during the one
         year period commencing on the first anniversary of the Grant Date and
         ending on the second anniversary thereof. To the extent then
         exercisable, this Option may be exercised in whole or in part from time
         to time.

<PAGE>

3.               ACCELERATION OF OPTION. Notwithstanding the foregoing
         paragraph, upon a "Change in Control" as defined in Section 13 of the
         Plan and upon termination of employment of the Optionee by reason of
         the Optionee's death, disability (as defined in Section 4 of this
         Agreement) or retirement (as defined in Section 4 of this Agreement),
         this Option shall become immediately exercisable and vested in full.

4.               TERMINATION OF OPTION. This Option, to the extent not
         exercisable at such time, shall terminate contemporaneously with the
         termination of the Optionee's employment with the Company or any
         Subsidiary. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, this
         Option, to the extent exercisable upon the date of the termination of
         the Optionee's employment with the Company, or any Subsidiary, shall
         terminate upon the earliest to occur of the following:

         (a)      three months following the date of the Optionee's termination
                  of employment with the Company or any Subsidiary, if such
                  termination of employment is other than by reason of the
                  Optionee's death, Disability or Retirement or for Cause;

         (b)      three years from the date of the Optionee's termination of
                  employment with the Company or any Subsidiary, if such
                  termination of employment is by reason of the Optionee's
                  Retirement or Disability;

         (c)      one year from the date of the Optionee's termination of
                  employment with the Company or any Subsidiary, if such
                  termination of employment is by reason of the Optionee's
                  death;

         (d)      one year from the date of Optionee's death within the three
                  year period following the termination of employment with the
                  Company or any Subsidiary, if such termination of employment
                  is by reason of the Optionee's Retirement or Disability, to
                  the extent such Option has not been previously exercised
                  following such termination of employment;

         (e)      contemporaneously with the termination of the Optionee's
                  employment with the Company or any Subsidiary, if such
                  termination of employment is for Cause; or

         (f)      the close of business on EXPIRATION DATE which date is not
                  later than ten years from the Grant Date.

For the purpose of this Section 4, (i) "Cause" means a felony conviction of the
Optionee or the failure of Optionee to contest prosecution for a felony, or
Optionee's willful misconduct or dishonesty, any of which is directly and
materially harmful to the business or reputation of the Company or any
Subsidiary, (ii) "Disability" means permanent and total disability as determined
under the Company's long term disability program, and (iii) "Retirement" means
retirement from active employment with the Company or any Subsidiary on or after
the normal retirement date specified in the applicable pension plan of such
employer, or retirement, with the consent for purposes of the Plan, of the
Committee at or prior to the time of retirement, from active employment with the
Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to the early retirement provisions of the
applicable pension plan of such employer.

5.                TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTION. This Option is not transferable by
         the Optionee otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and
         distribution, and is exercisable, during the lifetime of the Optionee,
         only by the Optionee, or in the event of the Optionee's legal
         incapacity, by the Optionees's guardian or legal representative acting
         in a fiduciary capacity on behalf of the Optionee under state law and
         court supervision, subject to the provisions of Section 4 hereof.

                                       2
<PAGE>

6.                CONTINUITY OF EMPLOYMENT. For purposes of this Agreement, the
         continuous employ of the Optionee with the Company or any Subsidiary
         shall not be deemed interrupted, and the Optionee shall not be deemed
         to have ceased to be an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary, by
         reason of the transfer of his employment among the Company and any
         Subsidiary, or by reason of a leave of absence approved by the
         Committee for illness, military or governmental service, or other
         cause.

7.       NOTICE AND MANNER OF PAYMENT.

         (a)               This Option may be exercised by giving written notice
                  to the Company specifying the number of Common Shares to be
                  purchased. Such notice shall be accompanied by payment in full
                  of the purchase price, either by certified or official bank
                  check, or in full or in part in the form of unrestricted
                  Common Shares already owned by the Optionee for at least 6
                  months or Restricted Stock or Deferred Stock subject to an
                  award under the Plan. If payment of the purchase price is made
                  in the form of Restricted Stock or Deferred Stock subject to
                  an award under the Plan, the Common Shares received by the
                  Optionee upon the exercise of the Option Rights will be
                  subject to the same risks of forfeiture or restrictions on
                  transfer as those that applied to the consideration
                  surrendered by the Optionee except that such risks of
                  forfeiture and restrictions on transfer will apply only to the
                  same number of Common Shares received by the Optionee as
                  applied to the forfeitable or restricted Common Shares
                  surrendered by the Optionee.

         (b)               Any notice to the Company provided for herein shall
                  be in writing to the Company, marked Attention: Corporate
                  Secretary at The Lamson & Sessions Co., 25701 Science Park
                  Drive, Cleveland, Ohio 44122, and any notice to the Optionee
                  shall be addressed to said Optionee at his or her address
                  currently on file with the Company. Except as otherwise
                  provided herein, any written notice shall be deemed to be duly
                  given if and when hand delivered, or five (5) business days
                  after having been mailed by United States registered or
                  certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or
                  three (3) business days after having been sent by a nationally
                  recognized overnight courier service such as Federal Express,
                  UPS or DHL, addressed as aforesaid. Any party may change the
                  address to which notices are to be given hereunder by written
                  notice to the other party as herein specified, except that
                  notices of changes of address shall be effective only upon
                  receipt.

8.                AMENDMENT, INTERPRETATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN. The
         Committee shall have authority to interpret the provisions of this
         Agreement and the Plan, to adopt, alter and repeal such administrative
         rules, guidelines, and practices governing the Plan as it shall, from
         time to time, deem advisable, and to otherwise supervise the
         administration of the Plan. All decisions made in good faith by the
         Committee pursuant to the provisions hereof shall be made in the
         Committee's sole discretion and shall be final and binding on all
         persons.

9.                NO EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT. Nothing contained in this Agreement
         shall confer upon the Optionee any right with respect to continuance of
         employment by the Company or a Subsidiary, nor limit or affect in any
         manner the right of the Company or a Subsidiary to terminate the
         employment or adjust the compensation of the Optionee.

10.               TAXES AND WITHHOLDING. If the Company or any Subsidiary shall
         be required to withhold any federal, state, local or foreign tax in
         connection with the exercise of this Option, and the amounts available
         to the Company or such Subsidiary for such withholding are
         insufficient, the Optionee shall pay the tax or make provisions that
         are satisfactory to the Company or such

                                       3
<PAGE>

         Subsidiary for the payment thereof. The Optionee may elect to satisfy
         all or any part of any such withholding obligation by surrendering to
         the Company a portion of the Common Shares that are issuable or
         transferable to the Optionee upon the exercise of this Option, and the
         Common Shares so surrendered by the Optionee shall be credited against
         any such withholding obligation at a price per Common Share so
         surrendered which shall not be less than the mean between the highest
         and lowest quoted selling price, regular way, of the Common Shares on
         the New York Stock Exchange on the date of such surrender. The Company
         will pay any and all issue and other taxes in the nature thereof which
         may be payable by the Company in respect of any issue or delivery upon
         a purchase pursuant to this Option.

11.               COMPLIANCE WITH LAW. The Company shall make reasonable efforts
         to comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws;
         PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that notwithstanding any other provision of this
         Agreement, this Option shall not be exercisable if the exercise thereof
         would result in a violation of any such law.

12.               ADJUSTMENTS. The Committee shall make or provide for such
         adjustments in the number of Common Shares covered by this Option, in
         the Option Price applicable to such Option, and in the kind of shares
         covered thereby, as the Committee may determine is equitably required
         to prevent dilution or enlargement of the Optionee's rights that
         otherwise would result from (a) any stock dividend, stock split,
         combination of shares, recapitalization, or other change in the capital
         structure of the Company, (b) any merger, consolidation, spin-off,
         split-off, spin-out, split-up, reorganization, partial or complete
         liquidation, or other distribution of assets or issuance of rights or
         warrants to purchase securities, or (c) any other corporate transaction
         or event having an effect similar to any of the foregoing. In the event
         of any such transaction or event, the Committee may provide in
         substitution for this Option such alternative consideration as it may
         determine to be equitable in the circumstances and may require in
         connection therewith the surrender of this Option.

13.               AVAILABLE SHARES. The Company shall at all times until the
         expiration of this Option, reserve and keep available, either in its
         treasury or out of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock,
         the full number of Common Shares deliverable upon the exercise of this
         Option.

14.               RELATION TO OTHER BENEFITS. Any economic or other benefit to
         the Optionee under this Agreement shall not be taken into account in
         determining any benefits to which the Optionee may be entitled under
         any profit-sharing, retirement or other benefit or compensation plan
         maintained by the Company or a Subsidiary and shall not affect the
         amount of any life insurance coverage available to any beneficiary
         under any life insurance plan covering employees of the Company or a
         Subsidiary.

15.               AMENDMENTS. Any amendment to the Plan shall be deemed to be an
         amendment to this Agreement to the extent that the amendment is
         applicable hereto; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no amendment shall adversely
         affect the rights of the Optionee under this Agreement without the
         Optionee's consent.

16.               RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER. The Optionee shall have none of the
         rights of a stockholder with respect to the shares of Common Stock
         subject to this Option until such shares are issued to the Optionee
         upon exercise of this Option.

17.               SEVERABILITY. In the event that one or more of the provisions
         of this Agreement shall be invalidated for any reason by a court of
         competent jurisdiction, any provision so invalidated shall be deemed to
         be separable from the other provisions hereof, and the remaining
         provisions hereof shall continue to be valid and fully enforceable.

                                       4
<PAGE>

18.               RELATION TO PLAN. This Agreement is subject to the terms and
         conditions of the Plan. In the event of any inconsistent provisions
         between this Agreement and the Plan, the Plan shall govern. The
         Committee acting pursuant to the Plan, as constituted from time to
         time, shall, except as expressly provided otherwise herein, have the
         right to determine any questions that arise in connection with this
         Option or its exercise.

19.               SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. Without limiting Section 5 hereof, the
         provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be
         binding upon, the successors, administrators, heirs, legal
         representatives and assigns of the Optionee, and the successors and
         assigns of the Company.

20.               GOVERNING LAW. The interpretation, performance, and
         enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the
         State of Ohio, without giving effect to the principles of conflict of
         laws thereof.

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

                                  THE LAMSON & SESSIONS CO.

                                  By:
                                      ----------------------------------------
                                                  John B. Schulze
                                             Chairman of the Board and
                                              Chief Executive Officer

         The undersigned Optionee hereby acknowledges receipt of an executed
original of this Agreement and accepts this Option granted thereunder, and the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

                                 ----------------------------------------------
                                            Optionee's Name

                                 Dated:
                                        ---------------------------------------

Revised:  July 19, 2001

                                       5

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