<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such Form 10-Q. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000061004 <NAME> LYNCH CORPORATION <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1996 <CASH> 23,204 <SECURITIES> 6,409 <RECEIVABLES> 52,959 <ALLOWANCES> 1,286 <INVENTORY> 33,911 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 127,443 <PP&E> 152,395 <DEPRECIATION> 40,053 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 308,433 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 100,074 <BONDS> 139,485 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 5,139 <OTHER-SE> 32,291 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 308,433 <SALES> 110,930 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 110,930 <CGS> 94,405 <TOTAL-COSTS> 105,020 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,954 <INCOME-PRETAX> 2,452 <INCOME-TAX> 963 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,201 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,201 <EPS-PRIMARY> .86 <EPS-DILUTED> .86