<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 27.7

                                BALL CORPORATION
                             FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE

THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE RESTATED
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE THREE MONTHS  ENDED
MARCH 31, 1996  AND THE RESTATED UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE  SHEET
AS  OF  MARCH 31, 1996  AND IS  QUALIFIED IN ITS  ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO  SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<CASH>                                          18,800
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  232,800
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    370,800
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               707,200
<PP&E>                                       1,197,000
<DEPRECIATION>                                 521,800
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,797,200
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          551,300
<BONDS>                                        456,800
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     14,700
<COMMON>                                       230,800
<OTHER-SE>                                     336,900
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,797,200
<SALES>                                        462,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               462,000
<CGS>                                          424,500
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  424,500
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               6,800
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  6,800
<INCOME-TAX>                                     2,400
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              6,800
<DISCONTINUED>                                  (1,300)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     5,500
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.16
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.15