Form 5
1. Name and address of reporting person:
Bradley A. Kelsheimer
1536 Beech Street
Terre Haute, IN 47804
2. Issuer name and ticker or trading symbol:
General Housewares Corp. (GHW)
4. Statement for month/year:
1998
6. Relationship of reporting person to issuer:
Officer - Controller
TABLE I
1. Title of security:
Common Stock
2. Transaction date:
Periodic
3. Transaction code:
B
4. Securities acquired (A) or Disposed of (D):
104.717 A
Price $9.56 - $7.65
5. Amount of securities beneficially owned at end of month:
16,574 (D)
390.279 (I)*
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
*Acquired on a periodic basis by the trustee of the Issuer's Employee Stock
Purchase Plan. Represents shares acquired through 12/31/98, the latest date
for which information is available.
TABLE II
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned at End of Month
2,200
/s/ Bradley A. Kelsheimer
Date: February 12, 1999