<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0000025757
<NAME> CROMPTON & KNOWLES CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-26-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-26-1998
<CASH>                                          12,104
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  173,668
<ALLOWANCES>                                     9,768
<INVENTORY>                                    334,562
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               597,756
<PP&E>                                         473,403
<DEPRECIATION>                                 434,680
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,408,893
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          394,372
<BONDS>                                        646,857
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         7,733
<OTHER-SE>                                      58,970
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,408,893
<SALES>                                      1,796,119
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,796,119
<CGS>                                        1,146,200
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,577,821
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             (158,938)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 5,209
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              78,520
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                298,716
<INCOME-TAX>                                   115,493
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            183,223
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                               (21,468)
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   161,755
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.20<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.14
<FN>
<F1>Reflects Basic earnings per share.
</FN>