UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q


             [ X ] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                  For the quarterly period ended June 30, 1996


                          Commission file number 1-7349

                                BALL CORPORATION

                           State of Indiana 35-0160610

                      345 South High Street, P.O. Box 2407
                              Muncie, IN 47307-0407
                                  317/747-6100


         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
         required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange
         Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter  period
         that the  registrant  was required to file such  reports),  and (2) has
         been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [ X]
         No [ ]

         Indicate  the  number of  shares  outstanding  of each of the  issuer's
         classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

           Class                                    Outstanding at June 30, 1996
         Common Stock,
          without par value                               30,377,420 shares





                        Ball Corporation and Subsidiaries
                          QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q
                       For the period ended June 30, 1996



                                      INDEX




                                                                                        Page Number
                                                                                    ---------------------
                                                                                 

PART I.         FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Item 1.         Financial Statements

                Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income for the
                   three and six month periods ended June 30, 1996 and July 2,
                   1995                                                                      3

                Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at June 30, 1996
                   and December 31, 1995                                                     4

                Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the
                   six month periods ended June 30, 1996 and July 2, 1995
                                                                                             5

                Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
                                                                                             6

Item 2.         Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial     Condition
                and Results of Operations                                                    8

PART II.        OTHER INFORMATION                                                            11




PART I.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.      Financial Statements

                        Ball Corporation and Subsidiaries
              UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
                 (Millions of dollars except per share amounts)

                                                           Three months ended                Six months ended
                                                      -----------------------------    -----------------------------
                                                       June 30,          July 2,        June 30,          July 2,
                                                         1996             1995            1996             1995
                                                      ------------     ------------    ------------     ------------
                                                                                            
   Net sales                                          $    600.1       $    755.2      $   1,062.1      $   1,360.8
                                                      ------------     ------------    ------------     ------------

   Costs and expenses
     Cost of sales                                         547.9            679.4            972.4          1,220.3
     General and administrative expenses                    20.7             22.8             40.3             46.7
     Selling and product development expenses                3.1              5.9              7.6             13.3
     Net gain on dispositions of businesses                 --               --               --               (3.8)
     Interest expense                                       11.4             10.7             19.8             20.3
                                                      ------------     ------------    ------------     ------------
                                                           583.1            718.8          1,040.1          1,296.8
                                                      ------------     ------------    ------------     ------------

   Income before taxes on income, minority
     interests and equity in earnings of affiliates
                                                            17.0             36.4             22.0             64.0

   Provision for taxes on income                            (6.4)           (14.0)            (8.1)           (24.1)

   Minority interests                                        0.2             (1.2)             0.2             (2.6)
   Equity in earnings of affiliates                          1.0              0.7              3.2              0.9
                                                      ------------     ------------    ------------     ------------


   Net income                                               11.8             21.9             17.3             38.2

   Preferred dividends, net of tax benefit                  (0.7)            (0.8)            (1.5)            (1.6)
                                                      ------------     ------------    ------------     ------------

   Earnings attributable to common shareholders       $     11.1       $     21.1      $      15.8      $      36.6
                                                      ============     ============    ============     ============

   Earnings per share of common stock                 $     0.37       $     0.70      $      0.52      $      1.22
                                                      ============     ============    ============     ============

   Fully diluted earnings per share                   $     0.35       $     0.66      $      0.50      $      1.14
                                                      ============     ============    ============     ============

   Cash dividends declared per common share           $     0.15       $     0.15      $      0.30      $      0.30
                                                      ============     ============    ============     ============


See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.




                        Ball Corporation and Subsidiaries
                 UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
                              (Millions of dollars)


                                                                                June 30,              December 31,
                                                                                  1996                    1995
                                                                            ----------------        ------------------
                                                                                              
ASSETS
Current assets
   Cash and temporary investments                                            $         20.2         $         5.1
   Accounts receivable, net                                                           326.8                 200.0
   Inventories, net
     Raw materials and supplies                                                        84.9                  82.8
     Work in process and finished goods                                               253.1                 235.7
   Deferred income tax benefits and prepaid expenses                                   85.3                  69.1
                                                                             ------------------     ------------------
     Total current assets                                                             770.3                 592.7
                                                                             ------------------     ------------------

Property, plant and equipment, at cost                                              1,229.7               1,146.8
Accumulated depreciation                                                             (532.7)               (518.2)
                                                                             ------------------     ------------------
                                                                                      697.0                 628.6
                                                                             ------------------     ------------------

Investment in affiliates                                                              253.6                 262.8
Goodwill and other assets                                                             145.0                 128.4
                                                                             ------------------     ------------------

                                                                             $      1,865.9         $     1,612.5
                                                                             ==================     ==================

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
   Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt                     $        266.9         $       155.0
   Accounts payable                                                                   242.0                 195.3
   Salaries, wages and other current liabilities                                      134.8                 147.2
                                                                             ------------------     ------------------
     Total current liabilities                                                        643.7                 497.5
                                                                             ------------------     ------------------

Noncurrent liabilities
   Long-term debt                                                                     431.7                 320.4
   Employee benefit obligations, deferred income taxes and other                      184.3                 205.9
                                                                             ------------------     ------------------
     Total noncurrent liabilities                                                     616.0                 526.3
                                                                             ------------------     ------------------

Contingencies
Minority interests                                                                      9.5                   6.0
                                                                             ------------------     ------------------

Shareholders' equity
   Series B ESOP Convertible Preferred Stock                                           62.4                  65.6
   Unearned compensation - ESOP                                                       (47.3)                (50.4)
                                                                                                    ------------------
                                                                             ------------------
     Preferred shareholder's equity                                                    15.1                  15.2
                                                                             ------------------     ------------------

   Common stock (issued  32,657,944 shares - 1996;
      32,172,768 shares - 1995)                                                       307.7                 293.8
   Retained earnings                                                                  343.3                 336.4
   Treasury stock, at cost (2,280,524 shares - 1996;
      2,058,173 shares - 1995)                                                        (69.4)                (62.7)
                                                                                                    ------------------
                                                                             ------------------
     Common shareholders' equity                                                      596.7                 567.5
                                                                             ------------------     ------------------

                                                                             $      1,865.9         $     1,612.5
                                                                             ==================     ==================

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.



                        Ball Corporation and Subsidiaries
                        UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
                             STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
                              (Millions of dollars)

                                                                                       Six months ended
                                                                             -------------------------------------
                                                                                June 30,              July 2,
                                                                                  1996                 1995
                                                                             ----------------     ----------------
                                                                                            

Cash flows from operating activities
   Net income                                                                    $   17.3             $   38.2
   Reconciliation of net income to net cash used in operating activities:
     Depreciation and amortization                                                   41.6                 64.0
     Other, net                                                                     (22.0)               (16.1)
     Changes in working capital components                                         (103.0)              (155.7)
                                                                             ----------------     ----------------
       Net cash used in operating activities                                        (66.1)               (69.6)
                                                                             ----------------     ----------------

Cash flows from financing activities
   Net change in long-term debt                                                     115.7                117.3
   Net change in short-term debt                                                    110.4                 42.5
   Common and preferred dividends                                                   (11.5)               (11.5)
   Net proceeds from issuance of common stock under various employee and
     shareholder plans                                                               13.8                 16.5
   Acquisitions of treasury stock                                                    (6.6)               (14.2)
   Other, net                                                                        (3.5)                (0.5)
                                                                             ----------------     ----------------
       Net cash provided by financing activities                                    218.3                150.1
                                                                             ----------------     ----------------

Cash flows from investing activities
   Additions to property, plant and equipment                                      (104.0)               (81.1)
   Net proceeds from dispositions of businesses                                      --                   14.5
   Investments in and advances to affiliates and foreign joint ventures             (40.9)               (15.7)
   Other, net                                                                         7.8                  1.6
                                                                             ----------------     ----------------
       Net cash used in investing activities                                       (137.1)               (80.7)
                                                                             ----------------     ----------------

Net increase (decrease) in cash                                                      15.1                 (0.2)
Cash and temporary investments:
   Beginning of period                                                                5.1                 10.4
                                                                             ================     ================
   End of period                                                                 $   20.2             $   10.2
                                                                             ================     ================


See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.



Ball Corporation and Subsidiaries
June 30, 1996

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1.  General.
The accompanying  condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared
by the company  without audit.  Certain  information  and footnote  disclosures,
including  significant  accounting  policies,  normally  included  in  financial
statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting  principles
have been condensed or omitted. However, the company believes that the financial
statements  reflect all adjustments  which are necessary for a fair statement of
the results for the interim period.  Results of operations for the periods shown
are not necessarily indicative of results for the year,  particularly in view of
some seasonality in packaging  operations.  It is suggested that these unaudited
condensed  consolidated  financial  statements and accompanying  notes should be
read in conjunction  with the  consolidated  financial  statements and the notes
thereto included in the company's latest annual report.

The preparation of financial  statements in conformity  with generally  accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect  the  reported  amounts  of assets  and  liabilities  and  disclosure  of
contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial  statements,  and
reported  amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting  period.  Future
events could affect these estimates.

2.  Severance Charges.
The company  eliminated  approximately 75 salaried  administrative and technical
positions, during the first quarter of 1996, as part of a cost reduction program
within  its  metal  packaging  business.  For  employees  whose  employment  was
terminated,  the company  incurred an  after-tax  charge for  severance  of $1.7
million, or 6 cents per share included in general and administrative expenses.

3.  Equity Affiliate.
The unaudited  financial results of the company's  significant equity affiliate,
Ball-Foster Glass Container Co., L.L.C. (Ball-Foster) follow:


(dollars in millions)                                              Three months ended        Six months ended
                                                                     June 30, 1996             June 30, 1996
                                                                 -----------------------    --------------------
                                                                                      
Net sales                                                               $ 383.5                    $ 717.1
Cost of sales                                                             382.2                      685.0
Net loss reported by Ball-Foster                                          (24.5)                     (26.0)
Net loss attributable to Ball Corporation                               $ (10.3)                   $ (10.9)

Net loss after taxes included in equity earnings of affiliates         $   (6.1)                  $   (6.3)
After-tax impact of reserves released                                       7.0                        7.0
                                                                   ----------------------     ------------------
Net income after taxes attributable to Ball's investment in
  Ball-Foster included in equity earnings of affiliates                $    0.9                   $    0.7

The net loss reported by Ball-Foster  included a provision for costs  associated
with the  closure of two glass  manufacturing  facilities  that were  previously
owned  by  Ball  and  amortization  of  moulds  previously  capitalized  by  the
Foster-Forbes  glass business.  Ball's share of Ball-Foster's  net loss was more
than  offset by the  after-tax  benefits  from the  release of certain  reserves
provided  by  Ball  in  connection  with  the  sale  of the  glass  business  to
Ball-Foster in 1995 that Ball has since determined are no longer required.



4.  Shareholders' Equity.
Issued and outstanding  shares of the Series B ESOP Convertible  Preferred Stock
were  1,699,900  shares at June 30, 1996,  and 1,786,852  shares at December 31,
1995.

5.  Contingencies.
In the ordinary course of business,  the company is subject to various risks and
uncertainties  due, in part, to the highly  competitive nature of the industries
in which the company participates,  its operations in developing markets outside
the U.S.,  volatile costs of commodity  materials used in the manufacture of its
products,  and changing  capital markets.  Where possible and  practicable,  the
company attempts to minimize these risks and uncertainties.

From time to time,  the company is subject to routine  litigation  incidental to
its  business.  Additionally,  the  U.S.  Environmental  Protection  Agency  has
designated the company as a potentially  responsible  party, along with numerous
other companies,  for the cleanup of several hazardous waste sites. However, the
company's  information  at this time does not indicate  that these  matters will
have a material, adverse effect upon financial condition, results of operations,
capital expenditures or competitive position of the company.



Item 2.          MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
                 RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Consolidated  net sales and  operating  earnings for the second  quarter of 1996
were $600.1 million and $31.6 million, respectively,  compared to $755.2 million
and $48.9 million for the second  quarter of 1995,  respectively.  For the first
six months of 1996,  consolidated  net sales and  operating  earnings  were $1.1
billion and $44.9  million,  respectively,  compared  to $1.4  billion and $88.3
million,  respectively,  for the 1995 six  month  period.  The  lower  sales and
earnings in 1996 were  primarily  attributable  to the impact of the sale of the
company's  glass  container and Efratom  businesses in September  1995 and March
1995,  respectively;  lower earnings in the metal beverage  container  business;
and,  increased  startup  losses within the company's new PET plastic  container
business.

Interest  expense was $11.4  million in the second  quarter of 1996  compared to
$10.7 million in the 1995 second quarter. For the year-to-date periods, interest
expense  was $19.8  million and $20.3  million for 1996 and 1995,  respectively.
Higher interest  expense in the 1996 second quarter reflects higher average debt
levels partially offset by lower rates on interest-sensitive borrowings. For the
six month periods,  interest  expense was lower in 1996, a result of lower first
quarter 1996 borrowings and lower rates.

Taxes on income of $6.4  million  and $8.1  million  for the second  quarter and
first half of 1996, respectively, compare to $14.0 million and $24.1 million for
the second quarter and first half of 1995, respectively. The lower taxes reflect
the lower operating results in 1996.

Equity in  earnings of  affiliates  were $1.0  million and $0.7  million for the
second  quarters  of 1996 and 1995,  respectively.  For the six  month  periods,
equity in earnings of affiliates were $3.2 million and $0.9 million for 1996 and
1995, respectively.  Included in the second quarter results was the company's 42
percent share of Ball-Foster's  operating loss of $6.1 million, after taxes. The
operating loss included a provision for costs associated with the closure of two
glass  manufacturing  facilities  in  South  Carolina  and  Illinois  that  were
previously  owned by Ball and amortization of moulds  previously  capitalized by
the   Foster-Forbes   glass   business  and  which  are  now  fully   amortized.
Ball-Foster's  losses  attributable  to  Ball  were  essentially  offset  by the
after-tax  benefits  from the  release of certain  reserves  provided by Ball in
connection  with the sale of the glass business to Ball-Foster in 1995 that Ball
has since determined are no longer required.  In addition,  the company recorded
its share of losses  reported by EarthWatch  Inc., a development  stage company.
The impact of EarthWatch on the quarter and  year-to-date  periods of 1996 was a
loss  of  $1.2  million  and  $1.6  million,  respectively.  The  losses  in the
comparable 1995 periods were not significant.

Net income  and  earnings  per share for the  second  quarter of 1996 were $11.8
million and 37 cents per share, compared to $21.9 million and 70 cents per share
in the second  quarter of 1995.  For the six months of 1996 and 1995, net income
was $17.3 million and $38.2 million, respectively; and earnings per share was 52
cents and $1.22 for the 1996 and 1995 year-to-date  periods,  respectively.  The
lower net income  and  earnings  per share  amounts in 1996 were a result of the
lower operating results in 1996 discussed above.



Business Segments
Packaging
Packaging net sales for the second quarter and year-to-date periods of 1996 were
25.6 percent and 26.7 percent  lower,  respectively,  than the  comparable  1995
periods. Excluding the financial impact of the glass container business in 1995,
packaging  net sales for the  second  quarter  and first  half of 1996  exceeded
comparable 1995 amounts by 5.3 percent and 7.4 percent, respectively, reflecting
increased  sales  in the  metal  food  container  business  and  sales  from the
company's  new  PET  plastic  container  business.  Operating  earnings  for the
packaging  segment  were 43.5  percent  and 58.4  percent  lower for the  second
quarter and six month periods of 1996, respectively, compared to 1995. Operating
results for the packaging  segment,  excluding the 1995 glass container results,
were 24.0  percent and 45.0 percent  lower for the second  quarter and first six
months of 1996,  respectively.  The lower results in the second  quarter of 1996
are primarily due to lower results in the metal beverage container business. The
six month  period  ended  June 30,  1996  reflects  lower  results  in the metal
beverage containers business, as well as the impact of startup losses in the PET
plastic  container  business and a $2.7 million pretax charge for a reduction in
packaging administrative staff.

Within the packaging segment,  North American metal beverage container shipments
of cans and ends have  increased  by 11  percent  and 9 percent  for the  second
quarter and  year-to-date  periods of 1996,  respectively,  compared to the 1995
periods.  The  impact  of  increased  shipping  volume  on net  sales  has  been
substantially  offset by lower selling prices, due to the effect of lower market
prices for aluminum sheet and competitive  pricing.  Lower operating earnings in
the  North  American  metal  beverage  container  business  were a result of the
aforementioned  lower selling  prices  coupled with higher can sheet costs,  the
effects of lower aluminum scrap sales prices,  and manufacturing  inefficiencies
caused by the conversion of production  capabilities  to a smaller  diameter end
and lower gauge  aluminum.  Sales of metal  beverage  containers in China by the
company's Hong Kong-based  subsidiary  increased for the 1996 second quarter and
year-to-date  periods versus 1995,  though operating  earnings were lower due to
metal cost increases and competitive pricing.

The North American metal food container  business  recorded  increased  sales in
excess  of 8 percent  for the  second  quarter  and six  month  periods  of 1996
compared to 1995, with increased operating earnings of 38 percent for the second
quarter and 29 percent for the year-to-date  period,  compared to the prior year
periods.  An 11  percent  increase  in food  container  shipments  and  improved
manufacturing efficiencies contributed to the improved results.

The company's PET plastic container facility in Chino, California began shipping
containers in the first quarter of 1996. The second  facility in  Baldwinsville,
New York  began  shipping  product  in  March,  and a third  plant  in  Reading,
Pennsylvania was completed in June. A fourth  manufacturing  plant in Ames, Iowa
was announced in late May, with production scheduled to begin in early 1997. The
California  plant was not at full  production  during the quarter  resulting  in
start-up losses.

As  discussed  earlier,  the company  recorded a $6.1 million loss in the second
quarter  of 1996 ($6.3  million  for the first  half) for its 42 percent  equity
stake in Ball-Foster,  which was  essentially  offset by the release of reserves
provided by Ball related to Ball-Foster  which Ball has since  determined are no
longer  required.  In addition,  operating  results of the Ball-Foster  business
continued  to  be  negatively  impacted  by  an  extremely  competitive  pricing
environment  in the beer and  beverage  container  market,  partially  offset by
positive manufacturing efficiencies.



Aerospace and Technologies
Aerospace and  technologies  segment sales for the second  quarter and six month
periods  of 1996 were 21.8  percent  and 13.3  percent  higher  than the  second
quarter and six month periods of 1995. Segment operating earnings for the second
quarter of 1996 were  slightly  higher than same  quarter of 1995 while the 1996
six month  results  were 16.4 percent  lower than the first half of 1995,  which
included a $11.8 million gain on the sale of the Efratom  business in March 1995
and a charge  of $8.0  million  for  additional  costs  related  to the  imaging
products  business  which had been  discontinued.  Excluding  the effects of the
Efratom and imaging products  businesses from 1995 results,  sales and operating
earnings  for the first half of 1996 were 20.4  percent and 8.6 percent  higher,
respectively,  than the first half of 1995. The increased sales and earnings are
primarily  attributable  to a significant,  classified  multi-year  contract the
company entered into in late 1995.  Sales and earnings for the last half of 1996
are expected to remain strong with contract  backlog at $398 million at June 30,
1996,  compared to $420  million and $417  million at December 31, 1995 and June
30, 1995, respectively.

FINANCIAL CONDITION, LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Net cash used in operating  activities  was $66.1  million for the six months of
1996  compared  to $69.6  million for the same  period of 1995,  which  included
seasonal cash outflows for the glass container  business.  Capital  spending for
the first half of 1996 of $104.0 million was primarily for  construction  of the
PET plastic container facilities,  the completion of lightweighting  projects in
North American beverage packaging facilities,  and construction of international
metal  beverage  packaging  facilities.  Total  capital  spending  for  1996  is
anticipated  to be over $200 million.  In addition,  the company  provided $40.9
million to Brazilian and Thai equity  affiliates in investments  and advances in
the first half of 1996 versus $15.7 million in 1995 period, largely in China.

Working capital (excluding cash and current debt) was $373.3 million at June 30,
1996  compared to $245.1  million at December 31,  1995.  The increase of $128.2
million was primarily due to higher accounts receivable and inventories as sales
increased  in the second  quarter of 1996.  The  working  capital  ratio  (total
current  assets  divided by total current  liabilities)  was 1.20 at quarter end
versus 1.19 at year end 1995.

Total debt at June 30, 1996 was $698.5  million  compared  to $475.4  million at
December  31,  1995,  an  increase  of $223.1  million  used to fund  operations
including   seasonal   working  capital   requirements,   capital  spending  and
investments in affiliates.  Total debt-to-total capitalization at the end of the
1996 second  quarter  increased  to 53.5  percent  from 44.7 percent at year end
1995, reflecting the higher level of debt.

In January 1996, the company  privately  placed  long-term senior notes totaling
$150  million.  At June 30, 1996,  the company had  committed  revolving  credit
facilities  of $280 million with various  banks  consisting  of a $150  million,
five-year facility and 364-day facilities amounting to $130 million. The company
also had $356 million in uncommitted  credit  facilities  from various banks, of
which $105  million was  outstanding,  and a Canadian  dollar  commercial  paper
facility of approximately  $88 million,  of which $78 million was outstanding at
quarter end. The  company's  Hong  Kong-based  metal  packaging  subsidiary  had
additional  uncommitted credit facilitates of approximately $79 million of which
$45 million was outstanding.  Under the company's  receivable sale agreement,  a
net amount of $66.5 million of domestic  packaging trade  receivables  have been
sold without  recourse at June 30, 1996,  which are  reflected as a reduction in
accounts receivable.  Fees in connection with this program,  included in general
and  administrative  expenses,  were $1.8  million and $2.3  million for the six
month periods of 1996 and 1995, respectively.



PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.  Legal proceedings

There were no events required to be reported under Item 1 for the quarter ending
June 30, 1996.


Item 2.  Changes in securities

There were no events required to be reported under Item 2 for the quarter ending
June 30, 1996.


Item 3.  Defaults upon senior securities

There were no events required to be reported under Item 3 for the quarter ending
June 30, 1996.


Item 4.  Submission of matters to a vote of security holders

The Company held the Annual Meeting of Shareholders  on April 24, 1996.  Matters
voted upon by proxy were: the election of three  directors for three-year  terms
expiring in 1999; and, the  ratification of the appointment of Price  Waterhouse
LLP as independent accountants for 1996. The results of the vote are as follows:


                                                      Voted For       Voted Against       Withheld/Abstained
                                                                                 
Election of directors for terms expiring in 1999:
   George McFadden                                    28,716,872             --                      698,720
   W. Thomas Stephens                                 28,119,722             --                    1,295,870

   William P. Stiritz                                 28,159,076             --                    1,256,516

Appointment of Price Waterhouse LLP as
   independent accountants for 1996                   29,173,867            143,807                   97,918


Item 5.  Other information

There were no events required to be reported under Item 5 for the quarter ending
June 30, 1996.


Item 6.  Exhibits and reports on Form 8-K

(a)      Exhibits

            11.1  Statement Re: Computation of Earnings per Share

            27.1  Financial Data Schedule for the Six Months Ending June 30,1996


(b)      Reports on Form 8-K

         A Current  Report on Form  8-K,  dated  January  26,  1996,  announcing
         approval by the Board of  Directors  of an  extension  of the  benefits
         afforded  by the  company's  existing  shareholder  rights  plan by the
         adoption of a new shareholder rights plan, filed February 14, 1996.

         A  Current  Report  on Form  8-K,  dated  July  16,  1996,  identifying
         important  factors  that could cause the  company's  actual  results to
         differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements of
         the company made by, or on behalf of the company,  in  connection  with
         the "safe  harbor"  provisions  of the  Private  Securities  Litigation
         Reform Act of 1995, filed July 16, 1996.


                                    SIGNATURE


Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Ball Corporation
(Registrant)


By:        /s/  R. David Hoover
         R. David Hoover
         Executive Vice President,
           Chief Financial Officer
           and Treasurer

Date:          August 14, 1996



                        Ball Corporation and Subsidiaries
                          QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q
                                  June 30, 1996


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

                             Description                                 Exhibit
                             -----------                                 -------



Statement Re: Computation of Earnings per Share                          EX-11.1

Financial Data Schedule for the Six Months Ending June 30, 1996          EX-27.1

Cautionary statement for purposes of the "safe harbor" provisions
   of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.              EX-99.1