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  21,  1997 in the 1996  Annual  Report to  Shareholders  which is
incorporated by reference in the Annual Report on Form 10-K.



/s/ PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP

Indianapolis, Indiana

March 31, 1997