EXHIBIT 23







                             CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Annual Report (Form
10-K) of Baldor Electric Company and affiliates of our report dated
February 2,  1996 (except for Note G, as to which the date is February 16,
1996), included in the 1995 Annual Report to Shareholders of Baldor
Electric Company and affiliates.   

Our audits also included the financial statement schedules of Baldor
Electric Company and affiliates listed in Item 14(a).  These schedules are
the responsibility of the Company's management.  Our responsibility is to
express an opinion based on our audits.  In our opinion, the financial
statement schedules referred to above, when considered in relation to the
basic financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly in all
material respects the information set forth therein.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statements (Form S-8, No. 2-77046) pertaining to the Baldor Electric
Company 1982 Incentive Stock Option Plan, (Form S-8, No. 33-16766)
pertaining to the Baldor Electric Company 1987 Incentive Stock Plan, (Form
S-8, No. 33-28239) pertaining to the Baldor Electric Company Employee
Savings Plan, (Form S-8, No. 33-36421) pertaining to the Baldor Electric
Company 1989 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors and (Forms S-8,
No. 33-59281 and No. 33-60731) pertaining to the Baldor Electric Company
1994 Incentive Stock Plan of our report dated February 2, 1996, (except
for Note G, as to which the date is February 16, 1996), with respect to
the consolidated financial statements incorporated herein by reference,
and our report included in the preceding paragraph with respect to the
financial statement schedules included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K)
of Baldor Electric Company and affiliates.


/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
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St. Louis, Missouri
March 28, 1996