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,
33-40196  and  33-58741)  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, 1996,  except as to the Subsequent  Event note, which is as of
December 30, 1996, in the Consolidated  Financial  Statements for the year ended
December 31, 1995,  which is incorporated by reference in this Current Report on
Form 8-K.


/s/ PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
Indianapolis, Indiana
December 30, 1996