Exhibit 5

May 27, 1997




Aluminum Company of America
1501 Alcoa Building
Pittsburgh, PA  15219


Ladies and Gentlemen:


You have requested my opinion as to the legality of any original
issue shares, up to 8,600,000 shares, of common stock, par value
$1.00 per share, of Aluminum Company of America (the "Company")
which may be distributed pursuant to the Company's Long
Term Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan") (formerly named the 
"Employee's Stock Option Plan"), which shares of common stock 
you are seeking to register with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, 
as amended.

As Counsel of the Company I am generally familiar with
its legal affairs.  In addition, I have examined such
documents as I have deemed appropriate for the purpose
of this opinion.

In my opinion, if authorized but previously unissued
shares of common stock of the Company shall be issued and 
sold or delivered to participants in the Plan pursuant to 
the provisions thereof, the said shares of common stock 
will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

I hereby consent to be named, in the registration statement, 
and amendments thereof, by which the securities to be issued 
pursuant to the Plan are registered with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, and in any prospectus which is a part
thereof, as counsel for the Company who has passed upon the
legality of the securities registered thereby.  I further 
consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the 
registration statement.  I do not concede by these consents 
that I come within the category of persons whose consent is 
required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as 
amended, or by the rules and regulations of the Securities 
and Exchange Commission under that Act.

Very truly yours,


/s/Thomas F. Seligson
Thomas F. Seligson
Counsel