Inventories (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of inventory

Inventories consist of the following:

	At December 31,
	2016		2015
In thousands
Merchandise for resale	$	158,618	$	161,691
Raw materials	20,592		24,721
Contracts in process:
U.S. Government, net of progress payments of $28,824 and $28,812 in 2016 and 2015, respectively	85,779		88,345
Commercial and other government contracts	81,420		61,197
Other work in process (including certain general stock materials)	22,096		26,588
Finished goods	25,309		23,205
Total	$	393,814	$	385,747