Exhibit 23.1
                                                                   ------------
   
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

We  hereby  consent  to  the  incorporation  by  reference  in  each  Prospectus
constituting  part of each  Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 1 on Form S-3 to Form
S-16 Registration Statement  (Registration Nos. 2-62247 and 2-65638) and in each
Prospectus  constituting  part  of  each  Form  S-3  Registration  Statement  or
Post-Effective  Amendment  (Registration  Nos. 33-3027,  33-16674,  33-19035 and
33-40196)  and  in  each  Form  S-8  Registration  Statement  or  Post-Effective
Amendment (Registration Nos. 33-21506,  33-40199,  33-37548, 33-28064, 33-15639,
33-61986 and 33-51121) of Ball  Corporation of our report dated January 23, 1995
appearing  on page  17 of the  1994  Annual  Report  to  Shareholders  which  is
incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.



/s/ PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP

Indianapolis, Indiana

March 29, 1995