<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0000025757
<NAME> CROMPTON & KNOWLES CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-25-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-26-1999
<CASH>                                          14,243
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  199,368
<ALLOWANCES>                                    10,766
<INVENTORY>                                    318,711
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               615,110
<PP&E>                                         449,804
<DEPRECIATION>                                 433,335
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,381,192
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          349,542
<BONDS>                                        668,975
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         7,733
<OTHER-SE>                                      69,261
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,381,192
<SALES>                                        805,466
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               805,466
<CGS>                                          495,877
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  667,188
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                              (40,255)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 2,179
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              26,107
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                152,426
<INCOME-TAX>                                    55,254
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             97,172
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                (1,085)
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    96,087
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.44
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.41