<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
Audited amounts from fiscal year ended December 28, 1996.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000009342
<NAME> BALDOR ELECTRIC COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-28-1996             DEC-30-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-28-1996             DEC-30-1995
<CASH>                                            7950                    6322
<SECURITIES>                                     17892                   28487
<RECEIVABLES>                                    83383                   80568
<ALLOWANCES>                                      3200                    2800
<INVENTORY>                                      92387                   83689
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                218157                  212095
<PP&E>                                          202470                  182214
<DEPRECIATION>                                  107106                   93143
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  325486                  313462
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            71182                   67026
<BONDS>                                          45027                   25255
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                          2862                    2817
<OTHER-SE>                                      197463                  208561
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    325486                  313462
<SALES>                                         502875                  473103
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                505372                  475699
<CGS>                                           353345                  334306
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   448180                  422753
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   695                     886
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                2668                    1260
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  57192                   52946
<INCOME-TAX>                                     22019                   20641
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              35173                   32305
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     35173                   32305
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.29                    1.12
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.29                    1.12