<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0000025757
<NAME> CROMPTON & KNOWLES CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-26-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-27-1998
<CASH>                                          14,831
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  268,786
<ALLOWANCES>                                     9,640
<INVENTORY>                                    359,307
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               717,768
<PP&E>                                         467,457
<DEPRECIATION>                                 442,246
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,531,283
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          364,801
<BONDS>                                        832,578
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         7,733
<OTHER-SE>                                      33,026
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,531,283
<SALES>                                        951,556
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               951,556
<CGS>                                          594,556
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  794,753
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               (1,547)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 1,857
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              44,118
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                114,232
<INCOME-TAX>                                    42,494
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             71,738
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                               (15,794)
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    55,994
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.75<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.73
<FN>
<F1>Reflects Basic earnings per share.
</FN>